In every Grand Slam, 127 matches are contested in both the men’s and women’s singles draws as a field of 128 is pared down to one champion. More than half of those matches have now been played, after Day 2 of the 2018 US Open concluded the opening round of both tournaments.
Here’s a look at the top stories from bottom halves of the draws on Day 2.
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic win: Djokovic had to sweat his opening-round match in the midday heat, as he found himself down a break to Marton Fucsovics in a crucial third set. But the Serb regained the upper hand to go up two sets to one, then recovered his fitness thanks to a 10-minute heat break. After they returned to the court, Djokovic won six straight games to close out the victory 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.
"Obviously, I haven't experienced that before," Djokovic said about the break. "That was the first time. I think we both needed it."
Federer, on the other hand, breezed through his first-round match.
Ten years on from the last of his five consecutive US Open titles, the 20-time Grand Slam champion opened his 2018 campaign with an efficient three-set victory over Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Federer and Djokovic are now three rounds away from a potential quarterfinal showdown. The two champions have split their 6 US Open meetings to date, with Djokovic taking the last three, including a four-set victory in the in the 2015 US Open final, their most recent New York encounter.
Extreme Heat Policy: As temperatures approached 100 degrees at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the USTA made the unprecedented decision to implement an Extreme Heat Policy for men's matches on Day 2. Similar to the WTA's policy, this afforded players the opportunity to take a 10-minute break in between sets three and four of a split-sets match.
With similar conditions forecasted for through Thursday, this discretionary policy may come into play again during Round 2.
CoCo Vandeweghe exits early: Kirsten Flipkens knocked out last year’s US Open semifinalist CoCo Vandeweghe, 6-3, 7-6, on Court 17. The Belgian picked up her first career win over the big-serving American as well as her 25th career victory in the first round of Slams. Vandeweghe, who was one of four American women to reach the US Open semifinals last year, managed just six aces to 12 double faults. The New York City native is currently on a five match losing streak, her last win coming back on June 15 over Alison Riske in s-Hertogenbosch.
Frances Tiafoe notches first US Open victory: In his fourth US Open main-draw appearance, 20-year-old Frances Tiafoe upset No. 29 seed Adrian Mannarino of France for his first victory in Flushing Meadows. On Day 2 last year, the Maryland native pushed Roger Federer to five sets in Arthur Ashe Stadium as he announced himself to the tennis world. He wouldn't have to settle for a moral victory this time, as he fired 45 winners to the delight of a vocal Grandstand crowd on his way to Round 2.
Top-20 players complete perfect day: After a Day 1 that saw it's fair share of upsets, all 18 Top 20 players in action on Day 2 safely passed through the the second round. All nine seeded players in action in Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium lived up to their billing, including Caroline Wozniacki, Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko, Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev. No. 22 Marco Cecchinato was the highest-seeded player to fall.
Day 3 will serve up more highlights as the top halves of the men’s and women’ singles draws contest Round 2 on Wednesday. Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams will once again headline the Arthur Ashe Stadium evening session, after Andy Murray battles No. 31 Fernando Verdasco during the day. Sloane Stephens will play in Ashe for the first time since she won her title there one year ago, as she opens the day's slate on the show court.
Men's and women's doubles action will also get underway on Day 3, ensuring that the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will be abuzz with action deep into the night.
