US Open Day 3: Federer, Djokovic, Serena look vulnerable

Roger Federer lost the first set in a second match in a row, Novak Djokovic struggled through a shoulder injury, and Serena said she was disappointed with her second-round match performance.

For all the dominance of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams, each of them had shaky days on rain-soaked Wednesday. All three clocked in uncharacteristic error-strewn performances. Still, all three managed to pull through in the end to progress to the third round.

Federer unsure

First off, Roger Federer yet again lost the first set, in his second-round match against Damir Dzumhur, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. In his 100th US Open match, the 28-year-old hit 45 unforced errors. Perhaps the 20-time slam champion is still reeling from his painful loss to Djokovic at Wimbledon, or maybe he is building back confidence from that event match-by-match. The Swiss legend was at a loss why he’s getting off to such a slow start at Flushing Meadows.

"“I don’t know,” Federer said to reporters, according to CNN. “I have been in that position many times where you go through a little phase where you don’t start so well and everybody asks you right away, ‘What are you going to do?’ You’re like, ‘I don’t know.’ Just go back to the drawing board. Just do the same things again. You hope for a better outcome.”"

Novak’s injury

Also in doubt, Novak Djokovic suffered a shoulder injury that halted his momentum towards the end of the first set against world No. 56 Juan Ignacio Londero, 6-4, 7-6, 6-1. The reigning Wimbledon champion sought treatment during the match for the malady that seemed to affect his serve and backhand, with the 32-year-old sitting down two breaks in the second set, 3-0, and showing signs of visible distress and pain.

The 16-time slam champion called for the trainer and was able to power through the injury to fire off five games in a row that leveled the set. Djokovic admitted that the injury had been bothering him for weeks now, putting his quest for a fourth US Open slam in question.

“I was definitely tested,’’ Djokovic said afterwards, according to the New York Post. “It wasn’t easy playing with the pain. You have to find a way to fight and get some lucky shots.”

https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1166958087682646016

Djokovic will now take the next two days to rest the shoulder in time for his next match.

“I’ll probably freeze my arm for 48 hours and not do anything with it,’’ Djokovic said during his on-court interview.

Serena tested early

Unlike Monday’s thrashing of Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams was tested by young compatriot Caty McNally, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1. The 23-time slam champ has never lost a set this early at Flushing Meadows.

Going for her seventh US Open, last year’s finalist Williams won her first US Open two years prior to her 17-year-old competitor being born, a real testament to Serena’s longevity and greatness.

“I knew I was playing against the greatest of all time,” said McNally afterwards, according to ESPN. “I walked out there, and I had the chills.”

Serena’s sister, Venus Williams was less lucky, going out after two tight sets to a very efficient Elina Svitolina, 6-4, 6-4. Although the 39-year-old veteran hasn’t won a slam since 2008, she made the Australian and Wimbledon finals two years ago, and told the press afterwards that she plans to continue, at least until 2020, the next Olympic year. The seven-time slam champ has progressed to the quarterfinals at several tournaments this year, including the Cincinnati Masters just prior to the US Open.

Other contenders

Her compatriot Madison Keys is continuing to ride the confidence boost from her breakthrough win at that very tournament. The Cincinnati winner clocked in her second straight-sets victory at Flushing Meadows, powering through an early break and rallying to a resounding 6-4, 6-1 win over Zhu Lin, in just over an hour. The 2017 US Open finalist looks more poised than ever to make a second final—and a good chance of winning it—this year.

Another American, Lauren Davis, almost pushed world No. 2 Ashleigh Barty, to a third set, but the French Open winner was able to shake off the set points and fought back for the two-sets win, 6-2, 7-6(2). Barty was pushed in the first round, but seems to be getting stronger with each match.

"“I knew I was doing the right thing, it was just a bit about execution,” Barty said, according to The Guardian. “It was difficult conditions out there. But I’m very happy to come through and play a really good tie breaker.”"

Karolina Pliskova had all the power on her side as she defeated Georgian qualifier Mariam Bolkvadze 6-1, 6-4 in just over an hour. The US Open is the only slam where the world No. 3 has made a final, ultimately losing to Angelique Kerber in 2016. A power-hitting hard-court player, it’s her most successful slam, having reached the quarters the last two years. She will be looking to prove that she can make another final here this year, with the hope of closing in on the title for the first time.

Stay tuned here for all your US Open and tennis action. For my predictions for the final slam of the year, listen to Just End the Suffering podcast here. The remaining Round 2 action is on board on Thursday, with Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios, and the marquee matchup between Alexander Zverev and Frances Tiafoe, all viewable on ESPN.