Ferrer sails through
Spaniard happy to come through against dangerous opponent
Last Updated: August 30, 2012 12:59am
David Ferrer: Fourth-seeded Spaniard will next face Dutch qualifier Igor Sijsling
David Ferrer comfortably cleared his first hurdle at the US Open, seeing off big-serving South African Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7/3).
The fourth-seeded Spaniard diffused a dangerous opponent to ease through to the second round - next up will be Dutch qualifier Igor Sijsling, who knocked out Spain's Daniel Gimeno-Traver by a 7-5 6-3 6-4 scoreline.
Despite being better known for his exploits on clay, Ferrer has been as far as the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, losing to Novak Djokovic in the last four back in 2007.
"It was not easy match, no, with Anderson," Ferrer said. "He's a really good player. He's very strong first and second serve. I'm happy."
Seeds fall
There was an early exit for 29th seed Viktor Troicki, though, with the Serbian losing 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-2 to Germany's Cedrik-Marcel Stebe.
However, Janko Tipsarevic, another Serbian who is seeded eighth for the final grand slam of the season, battled back from two sets down to defeat France's Guillaume Rufin 4-6 3-6 6-2 6-3 6-2 in a titanic tussle.
American John Isner was also made to work hard to stay alive in the tournament, the home favourite getting past an argumentative Xavier Malisse 6-3 7-6 (7/5) 5-7 7-6 (9/7).
The ninth seed hit 20 aces and ended the match with a service winner on his third match point, in the process improving to 37-13 in tie-breaks this year.
Former champion Lleyton Hewitt made it through to round two at the expense of Tobias Kamke of Germany, the Australian coming back from losing the opening set to triumph 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-4.
Hewitt's reward is a clash with Gilles Muller, the man from Luxembourg having sent the 28th-ranked Russian Mikhail Youzhny tumbling out in a five-setter.
