“Well,’’ Nadal conceded, “I was a little bit lucky to win today in straight sets.’’
That’s for sure.
Three-time US Open champion Serena Williams followed Nadal into Arthur Ashe Stadium for her first singles match in the tournament since her 2009 tirade at a line judge. She never was challenged by 54th-ranked Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia, needing less than an hour to win, 6-1, 6-1.
Williams missed last year’s US Open because of surgery on her right foot after cutting it on glass at a restaurant in Germany in July. That was part of a series of health scares - including clots in her lungs, and a gathering of blood under the skin of her stomach - that sidelined the 13-time major champion for nearly a year.
“I’m so happy to be here. I didn’t think I would make it,’’ said the 28th-seeded Williams, whose ranking fell to 175th last month because of all that time off. “Just feel so blessed. I’m so happy.’’
Nadal expended a lot more energy than Williams or Novak Djokovic, who overtook the Spaniard at No. 1 in the rankings last month.
Djokovic’s opponent quit after 44 minutes yesterday because of food poisoning. But it didn’t take too long to see that Djokovic’s right shoulder is feeling fine. He began with a 121-miles-per-hour service winner. Four points later, he closed that game with a 120-m.p.h. ace. He whipped forehands exactly where he wanted them. He returned well, too.
Playing his first match since Aug. 21, when he quit because of a sore and tired shoulder, the top-seeded Djokovic began setting aside any questions about his fitness for Flushing Meadows, building a 6-0, 5-1 lead before 197th-ranked qualifier Conor Niland of Ireland stopped.
“Great opening performance,’’ Djokovic declared. “Today I didn’t feel any pain. I served well, and I played well, so I have no concern.’’
