US Open 2016: Fifth seed Milos Raonic knocked out by Ryan Harrison
| US Open |
|---|
| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 29 August-11 September |
| Coverage: Live radio commentary on Radio 5 live sports extra from 22:00 BST plus live text coverage on selected matches on the BBC Sport website. |
Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic of Canada made a shock exit at the hands of American qualifier Ryan Harrison in the second round of the US Open.
Raonic, the fifth seed, struggled physically as Harrison – the world number 120 – won 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 7-5 6-1.
“I started cramping midway through the second set,” said Raonic. “There was a lot of nerves and stress.”
Top seed Novak Djokovic reached round three without hitting a ball as Jiri Vesely withdrew before their match.
The Czech, 23, said he was “very, very disappointed” to pull out with inflammation of his left forearm.
Defending champion Djokovic, who has been struggling with a wrist injury, gets three days off before facing Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny on Friday.
Former champion Marin Cilic and French seeds Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga progressed, with fourth seed Rafael Nadal to play Italy’s Andreas Seppi later on Wednesday.
Cramp ends Raonic hopes
Raonic was among the favourites for the title after reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the final at Wimbledon, losing to Andy Murray on both occasions.
However, the 25-year-old struggled to carry his bags by the time he left the court following defeat by Harrison.
“It was probably just nerves and stress, a mental sort of over-exuberance,” said Raonic.
“Cramping in the left arm, right forearm there towards the end of the third set, both quads, a little bit in the hip flexor on the left. It was just catching me all over.
“I couldn’t switch grips from one point to the next. There were a few points where I would hold the racquet with my left hand and trying to stretch out my right hand in between shots, and that’s not going to work.”
I belong at the top – Wozniacki
Two-time finalist Caroline Wozniacki fought back superbly to beat ninth seed and former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Wozniacki, a former world number one, has slipped to 74th in the rankings and was one point from falling behind 5-0 against Kuznetsova.
However, the Dane battled back to win 6-4 6-4 and reach the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon last year.
“I stopped looking at the ranking once I fell out of the top 10,” said the 26-year-old. “I feel like I belong at the top.
“Today I beat someone who’s been playing really well this year and that’s definitely going to build my confidence.”
Germany’s Angelique Kerber, seeded second and in with a chance of taking the number one ranking, beat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia 6-2 7-6 (9-7).
Roberta Vinci, Dominika Cibulkova, Johanna Konta and Petra Kvitova were other seeds to progress, with third seed Garbine Muguruza taking on Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova in the night session.
Brits through in doubles
Fourth seeds Jamie Murray and Brazilian Bruno Soares came through a tight opening match against Gastao Elias and Joao Sousa, seeing off the Portuguese pair 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 7-5.
They were joined in the last 32 by the pairing of Britain’s Dan Evans and Australian Nick Kyrgios, who defeated Americans Daniel Nguyen and Noah Rubin 6-3 6-3.