Maria Sharapova set a U.S. Open record last night — her match starting the latest in history of the event when the first ball was served at 10:50 p.m.
After her tough first-round three-setter, the third-seeded Sharapova appeared in a hurry last night, whipping Anastasiya Yakimova 6-1, 6-1 to get to the third round. She still couldn’t finish it by midnight, meaning her match began in August and ended in September. She hit 28 winners to Yakimova’s two.
“It’s past my bedtime,” said Sharapova, whose chances have increased since No. 5 Petra Kvitova was eliminated in her quarter of the draw.
Kvitova beat Sharapova in the Wimbledon finals.
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The legendary Bryan twins can write a bible on doubles and teamwork. But yesterday in a stunner, the brothers were overwhelmed by a giant serve that no amount of teamwork could overcome.
The top-seeded Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, lost a first-round doubles match at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2001.
Unseeded Ivo Karlovic and Frank Moser beat the American twins 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. The Bryans had won three of the last four major titles, tying the Open era record with their 11th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.
But the 6-foot-10 Karlovic’s serve overpowered them, one clocked at 135 mph.
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No. 4 seed Andy Murray rolled in his first-round match over Somdev Devvarman 7-6, 6-2, 6-3 and admitted afterward the extra pressure he faces in these events.
“I was a little bit nervous at the start,” Murray said. “Try being a British player going into a Grand Slam.”
A Brit hasn’t won a Slam since 1936 (Fred Perry). Murray has been knocking on the door the last few years.
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No. 6 seed Robin Soderling forfeited against Louk Sorenson, claiming on Twitter he had an upset stomach . . . Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 Open champion who missed last year with wrist problems, made his return with a 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Felice Volandri.
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Billie Jean King, who is suffering from osteoarthritis, announced the USTA’s partnership with the Arthritis Foundation. The USTA will zero in on senior citizens and others with arthritis using tennis as a remedy.