What a strange game: Djokovic was fine, but he was barely tested. Souza looked out of his depth, unfortunately, and it wasn’t much of a match-up. Pospisil or Haider-Maurer up next for Nole. Thanks for reading. Goodbye.
Djokovic: “First of all, it’s great to be back on Arthur Ashe Stadium. To see the new roof construction … I want to thank all of you guys for coming today. The wind … it’s not as swirly as it was before, so you can feel in control of your strokes from the baseline.
“I’m just hoping I can continue playing this way, and if I do that I think I have a pretty good chance against anybody.”
That was quite something: Djokovic only lost eight points in that final set –but Souza just couldn’t offer anything, and that was a complete non-event. He’s 27 years of age, Souza: he needs to find a way to put up more of a fight.
Novak Djokovic wins!
Djokovic 6-1 6-1 6-1 Souza
Djokovic wants to win this quickly, and he’s rattling through it: 15-0, 30-0, 40-0: Souza can’t make a service return. And that’s game, set and match: after 71 minutes of one of the most one-sided matches one can remember, Djokovic is into the second round.
Djokovic breaks agains!
*Djokovic 6-1 6-1 5-1 Souza (*denotes next server)
Djokovic hasn’t had to show his best form here: he’s been fine, but Souza has just been so innocuous. And error-prone: that’s now 27 unforced errors as Djokovic moves to 0-30. And then he finds a lovely, effortless passing winner down the line for 0-40. This is crazy. But then Souza just laces a forehand down the line that Djokovic didn’t even move for! Incredible shot, and it’s 15-40, but it doesn’t last long: Djokovic finishes it off, and he’s serving for the match.
Djokovic 6-1 6-1 4-1 Souza* (*denotes next server)
That’s an eighth ace for Djokovic, and it’s 30-15, and now 40-15 when Souza’s service return is into the net. Souza just can’t get into these rallies: he’s making errors so early in the point. 40-15 becomes game Djokovic, and this match is nearing its end.
Djokovic breaks!
*Djokovic 6-1 6-1 3-1 Souza (*denotes next server)
This is about the time when Souza begins to find it hard: 15-30, and now 15-40: two break points for Djokovic, and then Souza’s first serve is into the net. Game Djokovic. Is this match being played on a loop? This third set is following the same pattern as the first two.
The players take a break to the sounds of Hello by Martin Solveig and Dragonette. Are they obliged to play synthpop tunes whose videos are set on tennis courts?
Updated
Djokovic 6-1 6-1 2-1 Souza* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic is quickly into his service game, and the points just keep coming: 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. Fabulous winner to clinch it, but Souza didn’t offer anything just then. The chasm in class is yawning.
*Djokovic 6-1 6-1 1-1 Souza (*denotes next server)
Souza has changed his shoes. In that first set he may as well have been wearing hobnail boots. Djokovic is long, and it’s 15-0. Maybe it is the shoes! Souza misses the return and it’s 15-15, but he puts away a nice backhand for 30-15. The guys on ESPN are musing on the difference between the Challenger tour, where Souza accrues most of his points, and the ATP tour: it looks as though Souza is finding the step up tough. But he holds his first service game, as he did in previous sets: now, can he stop a Djokovic blitz?
Djokovic 6-1 6-1 1-0 Souza* (*denotes next server)
Fowler and Cahill want to see more serve-volley stuff from Djokovic, but he’s OK there from the back of the court: finding the wide avenues down the line as Souza is pulled all over the place. 40-0 now, and the crowd on Arthur Ashe is really quiet. They haven’t really gotten their money’s worth, but that’s a missed winner from Djokovic, and we’re 40-15, but not for long: he wraps the game up with a 123mph ace.
This has been a real mismatch: Djokovic is well on top. Can Souza find something in this third set?
Djokovic wins the second set!
*Djokovic 6-1 6-1 0-0 Souza (*denotes next server)
Souza just can’t stay in these rallies: he’s trying to find winners too early, and just making errors all over the place: 19 so far. Djokovic has six. We’re 15-30 after another backhand down the line, but that’s a nice second-serve ace from Souza that kicked up: 30-30. Third ace of the match for the Brazilian. But he follows it up with a double fault! So sloppy, and it’s set point for Djokovic … and that’s the set! The ball from Souza was long, clearly, but wasn’t called: Djokovic challenged, and so confident of the call was he that he was already in the chair as the replay was shown. Djokovic is two sets up, and that $1 from the $250 bet is looking fairly secure.
Updated
Djokovic 6-1 5-1 Souza* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic has just been so dominant here: he’s won 45 of the 67 points played, and that was wacky from Souza: his return was so high and wild and ill-directed it almost hit Djokovic in the face. And what a winner there from the Serb! A backhand passing shot down the line, almost nonchalant. Game Djokovic, and he’s a game away from the second set.
Djokovic breaks again!
*Djokovic 6-1 4-1 Souza (*denotes next server)
Nice start for Souza for 15-0, but Djokovic puts away a nice backhand winner on an approach from Souza that was too short. Souza is wide with that funny little two-handed backhand, and then Djokovic finds the open court after Souza came in, perplexingly. Djokovic’s thigh muscles are bulging – or, as I had it originally, “bugling”, and it’s two break points, but that’s better from Souza … until it was worse. Game Djokovic, another break, and this is a mild horror show.
Djokovic 6-1 3-1 Souza* (*denotes next server)
Souza has to find something: it’s been too easy for Djokovic so far. Souza has committed 15 unforced errors, “many of them real head-scratchers,” says Fowler. He looks the part, Souza, in many ways, but he’s been so passive. He’s 15-15 here, but then is way long with a two-handed backhand, and it’s 30-15, and that’s another wild forehand. 40-15. Souza can only find the net on his service return, and Djokovic moves serenely to 3-1. Nole has barely broken sweat!
Djokovic breaks!
*Djokovic 6-1 2-1 Souza (*denotes next server)
Nice start from Souza for 15-0, but then he finds the net with a meek return from mid-court. Not good enough, I’m afraid, and then that’s a challenge from Djokovic: the ball was called in, but Nole was correct, and it’s 15-30. Testing moments for Souza, and he misses his first serve, which is not good news, but that’s a nice drop shot, played with finesse, that Djokovic can’t get over the net. 30-30. Then Souza inexplicably nets, and it’s 30-40, and Souza capitulates with a forehand that’s just so insipid. Djokovic breaks.
Djokovic 6-1 1-1 Souza* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic’s first-serve percentage in that first set was 85%. Unheard of! Also, Souza is soaked in sweat, while Djokovic looks like he’s come straight from the flagship Uniqlo store. Djokovic is a little off with his first serve, but it’s noticeable how often Djokovic is willing to come to the net, and he’s level after an easy hold.
*Djokovic 6-1 0-1 Souza (*denotes next server)
We’re just watching Serena and Roger Federer on the practice courts. The lines for autographs are long, we’re told. Souza had a tough opening set, but he’s better here, pushing Djokovic around, and we’re 40-15. And that’s nice from the Brazilian, and a solid hold to start the second set.
Djokovic wins the first set!
Djokovic 6-1 0-0 Souza* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic wants this to be over in double-quick time. He’s rattling through it here – a forehand winner here, an ace there, and that’s the opening set: 6-1 in 23 minutes.
Djokovic breaks again!
*Djokovic 5-1 Souza (*denotes next server)
Souza takes all the pace off his second serve, and Djokovic can dictate the point … but that’s a clear winner from Souza from the baseline! Nicely done. 15-0, but then Souza nets an easy down-the-line pass, and we’re at 15-15. Better from Souza, moving forward confidently for 30-15, but then misses a volley that he should have put away. 30-30. And when Souza misses his first serve he looks vulnerable, and Djokovic has break point again after Souza is yards long. But that’s in the net from Nole! Duh. Deuce.
The pre-match odds here were 1-250 for Djokovic. “I’ve never seen anything like that,” says Fowler. Souza has the advantage, but Djokovic just stands there at the baseline and moves him around, and we’re back to deuce. Analyst Darren Cahill reckons Souza’s western grip is causing him problems when he’s pushed back on his backhand side, and now Djokovic has another break point with a fine passing winner. Djokovic breaks again, and this is too easy.
Updated
Djokovic 4-1 Souza* (*denotes next server)
Brad Gilbert is giving it to us straight: “Souza is going to go back to playing Challenger events unless he makes a big improvement. That’s how tough the ATP tour is.”
Djokovic and Souza trade mistakes for 15-15, and then Djokovic is surprisingly slack from the baseline, and it’s 15-30. A sniff for Souza? Djokovic moves in smartly and pushes Souza deep, and Souza can’t find the white line. 30-30. And an ace from Djokovic, which he follows up to consolidate the break. Four one, and suddenly, for Souza, this match looks like an insurmountable peak to scale.
Djokovic breaks Souza!
*Djokovic 3-1 Souza (*denotes next server)
No real chances for either player to break so far. But Souza hasn’t looked intimidated, or fazed, and he’s started reasonably well. Djokovic is going to try to attack his backhand, but Souza has a nice first serve, and he’s tall, too: about 6ft 4in. But Souza has misfired here, and it’s quickly 0-40: three break chances for Djokovic, and he takes his first opportunity! Djokovic was quick to reach one that Souza dropped short, and Souza could only float the return long. Early break for Djokovic.
Updated
Djokovic 2-1 Souza* (*denotes next server)
Brad Gilbert says it feels like an indoor match. The entire court is in shade, and that’s 0-15: Djokovic couldn’t get his racket on a well-hit return from Souza. Djokovic responds with a cross-court forehand winner for 15-15, and then Souza is wide with a regulation forehand. Nice serve from Djokovic, and Souza can’t return it, but that’s a crunching forehand winner from Souza! Great shot, and it’s 40-30, but no matter: Djokovic moves in nicely, and holds for 2-1.
Djokovic* 1-1 Souza (*denotes next server)
30-0 Souza. Djokovic not quite at it with his return of serve. In sartorial matters, Souza is wearing a red shirt and black shorts – is he a fan of Flamengo in soccer? He is from Rio, after all. Djokovic is blue, with white shorts that always look slightly too snug. Djokovic gets his first point of the set, but that’s a good start from Souza. One-all.
Djokovic 1-0 Souza* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic is into his stride quickly, and moves to 40-0. “To say that Djokovic is a massive favourite in this match is a massive understatement,” says Chris Fowler on ESPN commentary. Souza is on an 11- match tour losing streak, and has won only one set at grand slams. That’s the game for Djokovic, and he’s off the mark.
Cilic has beaten Pella. So let’s switch to Djokovic! Game on!
Cilic and Pella are into a tie-break in the third. It’s 4-2 Cilic. Goran Ivanisevic is watching with interest. As well he might: he’s Cilic’s coach.
Novak’s just coming on to the court. We’re not too far away!
Marin Cilic, the reigning US Open champion, is in action now against Guido Pella. He’s two sets up, five-all in the third. “He’s athletically better than average for his height,” says John McEnroe. Basically, he’s got a good touch for a big man.
Serena is on in primetime tonight: she plays Vitalia Diatchenko. This piece by my colleague Bryan Graham is magnificent: is America ready to embrace her?
Venus Williams has won: 6-3 6-7 6-4. She’ll play Irina Falconi, her compatriot, in the next round.
Some head-to-head statistics between Djokovic and Souza: they’ve never played. Ha! For comparison, Djokovic has 54 titles, and Souza has a big fat zero. He’s also never been past the first round in a grand slam. But he is 6ft 4in, and could trouble Djokovic with his serve, theoretically. Ack, who are we kidding: Djokovic should win this comfortably, in straight sets.
Venus Williams threw away three match points in the second set, but she’s 3-5 up in the final one. She can’t throw it away now, can she?
Hello and welcome
A mixed day at Flushing Meadows, on the opening day of the final grand slam of the calendar year: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Agnieszka Radwańska are safely through after a fairly un-glamorous day session, but Kei Nishikori and Ana Ivanovic are out, beaten by Benoit Paire and Dominika Cibulkova respectively. It’s been reasonably low-fi stuff so far, but now here’s Nole: Novak Djokovic wants his second straight grand slam title, and he plays the Brazilian Joao Souza in the first round in a few short moments. He’ll be on court at Arthur Ashe immediately after Venus Williams, who’s not far away from a three-set victory over Monica Puig: she’s 4-3 up with a break in the final set.
Updated
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Patrick A Wilson on Serena Williams:
