It is a year since Kei Nishikori embarrassed Novak Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals – an impossibility this year after his shock departure on day one – but the Serb looked far happier at the start of this campaign than he has done for weeks, moving into the second round after beating the Brazilian João Souza.
Five aces in the first 23 minutes were the perfect response to doubts about Djokovic’s serving shoulder and he moved throughout with his familiar gazelle-like ease to finish the job 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in windy conditions on Arthur Ashe, whose new roof will be fully operational next year. Right now, it is a talking point and giant umbrella.
On court, it was business as usual. This was the world No 1 returned to his best on the big stage after a dip since beating Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final seven weeks ago. Federer got his revenge in the Cincinnati final last Sunday.
Having softened up his outclassed opponent in the first set, Djokovic sacrificed power for placement and a fabulous 91% return on first-serve points while hitting only another three aces; then again they were only on court for 71 minutes, one of the tournament’s quicker first-round blitzes.
Nishikori, who lost to Marin Cilic in last year’s final, reached the Montreal semi-finals against Andy Murray this month but withdrew from the recent Cincinnati tournament and seems returned to the frailty that dogged him last year. “It was tough to get a rhythm,” Nishikori said. “He hit a lot of drop shots and good serves. I wasn’t playing 100 per cent, but [the result] was more because of him.”
Paire said: “Practising the last few days, I was not feeling so confident with my serve, and today it was working. I lost against Kei at Roland Garros. I lost in four sets, but t was a tough match, so I knew I could do something [here].”
On the same court immediately after Paire’s win, Cilic beat the Argentinian qualifier Guido Pella 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) in just under two hours.
