Novak Djokovic, Zverev, Kerber romp into third round

NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic's bid for a 21st major title that would complete a calendar-year Grand Slam picked up pace on Thursday as the world number one cruised into the US Open third round with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 thrashing of Tallon Griekspoor.

Having shaken off the rust in a spotty four-set opening match against 18-year-old Holger Rune on Tuesday, Djokovic was sharper and much more focused against the 25-year-old Dutchman.

Just like his first round contest Djokovic dominated early on but this time the 34-year-old Serb never let his foot off the gas as he registered his 77th win at the US Open.

Only three men have won more matches at the US Open — Jimmy Connors (98), Roger Federer (89) and Andre Agassi (79).

"I came out on court with the right intensity, the right focus," said Djokovic.

"Better definitely than the first-round match. It was important I came up with the goods. I'm very pleased with the level of my tennis. All is going in the right direction."

Alexander Zverev thrashed Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 in a brisk 74 minutes, conserving his energy as he rolled through to the third round.

More than half of the German's serves went unreturned in the lop-sided match, after Zverev got a break to kick off the first set and never let up the momentum.

The world number four fired down 11 aces, including three in a row to close out the third set on Arthur Ashe Stadium where he came within two points of triumphing a year ago before losing the final to Austrian Dominic Thiem.

"It was painful and I still remember it," said the newly-crowned Olympic champion. "I take it as motivation because I'm back here, I have the opportunity to do better."

Czech fourth seed Karolina Pliskova was on the verge of becoming an early casualty but overcame Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (7) in a thrilling second round encounter.

Pliskova looked in control in the opening set after a single break separated the players but American Anisimova, ranked 75th in the world, forced a decider when she won the second set tiebreak as the Czech made two double faults.

With the home crowd firmly backing Anisimova and cheering every point she won, the New Jersey-born 20-year-old fed off the energy at Arthur Ashe Stadium to save four break points and force another tiebreak.

Pliskova found herself 2-5 down in the tiebreak but she stormed back, saving a match point as Anisimova made three errors to handing the world number four a place in the third round.

She will next face Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic, who defeated Croatian 30th seed Petra Martic 7-6 (6), 6-4.

After an opening match nail-biter Angelique Kerber sailed drama free into the third round, brushing past Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-2 to set up a rematch of former champions.

But the 16th-seeded German looked every bit the three-times Grand Slam winner she is on Thursday, speeding past the 76th ranked Ukrainian in 66 minutes to set up a meeting with American Sloane Stephens.

The third-round clash will be an intriguing matchup between 2016 US Open winner Kerber and 2017 champion Stephens.

World number one Ash Barty stormed into the third round by taming Danish teenager Clara Tauson 6-1, 7-5.

A brilliant sun and clear skies greeted Barty and Tauson as they kicked off the action on an Arthur Ashe Stadium court that 12 hours earlier had closed its retractable roof and battened down the hatches as remnants of Hurricane Ida pounded New York, shutting roads and trains in and out of the sprawling facility.

Former champion Bianca Andreescu overcame a slow start to deliver a gutsy 6-4, 6-4 win over American Lauren Davis in the second round.

World number 10 Shapovalov kept the party going for Flushing Meadows' Canadian cohort, who donned red and white apparel with maple leaf accents, battling past Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-0.

Shapovalov fired 21 winners in the first set, though he struggled to contain the unforced errors (19). Agencies

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