Berdych Upends Hewitt, as Dimitrov Records First Flushing Meadows Win

August 27, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Tomas_Berdych (10)
Photo credit: Calvin Rhoden

Tomas Berdych defeated 2001 U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt on Wednesday at the U.S. Open, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 as first round men’s singles action drew to a close. With the win, Berdych has now won 100 matches at Grand Slam events, becoming the ninth active player to reach the mark. Berdych moves into round two to play Martin Klizan of Slovakia, who rallied from a two-set deficit to beat Steve Darcis 3-6, 2-6, 7-6(5), 7-5, 6-4.

"I feel pretty good," said Berdych. "It's a tough opponent, a big challenge. The conditions were extremely tough today. The heat, the wind and facing Lleyton in the first round … it's not what you really want to have. But otherwise, when you are prepared and feel good, that's a perfect start."

Coming into the 2014 U.S. Open 0-3 in his three Flushing Meadows appearances, all Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov could hope for was a first round win. He finally broke that streak Wednesday, besting American Ryan Harrison 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-2.

“I have high expectations for myself,” said Dimitrov after the match. He will await the winner of the match between Carlos Berlocq and Dudi Sela.

Number 14 Marin Cilic of Croatia eased into the second round on Wednesday. With a 6-3, 3-1 lead, his opponent, Marco Baghdatis of Cyprus, was forced to retire with a right ankle injury. Cilic extends his head-to-head lead over Baghdatis to 5-1 lifetime, his only loss at the Cincinnati Masters in 2010. Cilic, a two-time quarterfinalist at the Open, will next face qualifier Illya Marchenko in round two, after Marchenko’s win over Marco Chiudinelli, 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(13), 7-6(4). 

Credit all photos to Calvin Rhoden

 

 

 

 

2001 U.S. Open champ Lleyton Hewitt in his Wednesday afternoon loss at Arthur Ashe Stadium
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grigor Dimitrov recorded his first ever win at the U.S. Open Wednesday, ending an 0-3 skid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Ryan Harrison was eliminated from the men's singles draw Wednesday, falling to Grigor Dimitrov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomas Berdych recorded his 100th Grand Slam victory Wednesday at Flushing Meadows in his win over Lleyton Hewitt


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

January/February 2024 Digital Edition