This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/sports/tennis/top-seeded-azarenka-advances-at-us-open.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
For Baker and Isner, Longer Waits Than Expected On Side Court or Feature Court, Baker and Isner Are Glad to Get There
(35 minutes later)
On the Arthur Ashe Stadium court Wednesday, John Isner was thrilling a big crowd and brushing away thoughts that he was under pressure to advance far in the United States Open. He professed, after a hard-fought, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-6 (9) victory over Xavier Malisse of Belgium, that he was just happy to finally be awarded the honor of opening his tournament on the Open’s feature court. On the Arthur Ashe Stadium court Wednesday, John Isner was thrilling a big crowd and brushing away thoughts that he was under pressure to advance far in the United States Open. He professed, after a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-6 (9) victory over Xavier Malisse, that he was just happy to finally be awarded the honor of starting the tournament on the Open’s feature court.
A few hundred yards away, Brian Baker was winning his first-round match on Court 11, enjoying the honor of opening this tournament anywhere.A few hundred yards away, Brian Baker was winning his first-round match on Court 11, enjoying the honor of opening this tournament anywhere.
The two American players, both 27, were junior tennis prodigies. They have each put together remarkable seasons. But apart from that, they reside in separate tennis universes. Isner has spent the past few years adding weapons to his game to complement his huge serve, climbing to No. 9 in the world, the highest ranking among American men. Baker has spent the past seven years having his body and career reconstructed, with five surgeries and a ranking that hovered in the 500s as recently as a year ago. The two, both 27, were each American junior tennis prodigies. They have each put together remarkable seasons. But apart from that, they reside in separate tennis universes.
So while fans followed every boom that emanated from Isner’s racket as he left Malisse muttering to himself, a smaller in-the-know crowd gathered for Baker’s less-dramatic but emotional 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic. It was Baker’s first match at the Open since 2005 – when, perhaps fittingly, he played Malisse -- an absence even deeper than it was long. Isner has spent the past few years adding weapons to his game to complement his huge serve and climbing to No. 9 in the world, the highest ranking among American men. Baker has spent the past seven years having his body and career reconstructed, with five operations and a ranking that hovered in the 500s as recently as a year ago.
So while fans followed every boom that emanated from Isner’s racket as he left Malisse muttering to himself, a smaller, in-the-know crowd gathered for Baker’s less dramatic but emotional 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Jan Hajek. It was Baker’s first match at the Open since 2005 — when, perhaps fittingly, he played Malisse — an absence even deeper than it was long.
“It means everything,” Baker said. “Everybody knows I’ve gone through a hard time. I was probably a little more nervous today than I’d like to have been. But seven years is a long time.”“It means everything,” Baker said. “Everybody knows I’ve gone through a hard time. I was probably a little more nervous today than I’d like to have been. But seven years is a long time.”
Somewhere in all the pain and frustration, Baker, who since January has lifted his ranking to 70 from 458, has fashioned a remarkable comeback. He received more good news after his victory when he discovered his next opponent, eighth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, needed five sets to win his first-round match against Guillaume Rufin of France. Somewhere in all the pain and frustration, Baker, who since January has lifted his ranking to 70 from 458, has fashioned a remarkable comeback. He received more good news after his victory when he discovered that his next opponent, eighth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic, needed five sets to win his first-round match against Guillaume Rufin.
Still, Baker has no illusions that his journey will suddenly be easy.Still, Baker has no illusions that his journey will suddenly be easy.
“I haven’t really played him,” Baker said of Tipsarevic. “I think I played him in junior Wimbledon when I was 15. He doesn’t have to win in straight sets. He can win in five sets because he’s in great shape. When I get opportunities, I’m going to have to be aggressive and step up. I’m going to have to serve better than I did today.”“I haven’t really played him,” Baker said of Tipsarevic. “I think I played him in junior Wimbledon when I was 15. He doesn’t have to win in straight sets. He can win in five sets because he’s in great shape. When I get opportunities, I’m going to have to be aggressive and step up. I’m going to have to serve better than I did today.”
Baker advanced despite a 61 percentage mark on first serves. But all of that was mere details when he thought about what it meant just to be here. Baker advanced despite a 61 percent mark on first serves. But all of that was mere details when he thought about what it meant just to be here.
“I remember several years watching it on TV, wishing I was here, so just to be here is an awesome feeling,” Baker said. “And then at the same time, the competitive side kicks over and I want to do really well.”“I remember several years watching it on TV, wishing I was here, so just to be here is an awesome feeling,” Baker said. “And then at the same time, the competitive side kicks over and I want to do really well.”
Isner tried to claim he was also just happy to be moving on after dispatching Malisse, but he seemed to be convincing himself there was no more than the usual pressure on him here. He had to work hard to keep Malisse at bay, despite Malisse seeming to come apart at the seams. He carried on a running discussion with the umpire, with noisy fans, and at times, with himself. Four sets in, he resembled the crazy guy inevitably encountered on the 7 train at rush hour. Isner tried to claim that he was also just happy to be moving on after dispatching Malisse, but he seemed to be convincing himself there was no more than the usual pressure on him.
But he was still battling, sending two sets to tiebreakers. But that is Isner’s specialty. He leads the world in tiebreaker victories. His record in them this season is 37-13. Malisse, in contrast, is 9-10. He had to work hard to keep Malisse at bay, even though Malisse seemed to be coming apart at the seams. He carried on a running discussion with the umpire, with noisy fans, and at times, with himself. Four sets in, he resembled the crazy guy inevitably encountered on the No. 7 train at rush hour.
“I’ve had a lot of practice, obviously,” deadpanned Isner, who won tournaments in Newport, R.I., and Winston-Salem, N.C., this summer. “Last week I won a tiebreaker at the end to win the tournament and it gave me a lot of confidence. I wish I could make it a little easier on myself. I tend to not to, as people know.” But Malisse was still battling, sending two sets to tiebreakers. That is Isner’s specialty, however. He leads the world in tiebreaker victories, and his record in them this season is 37-13. Malisse, in contrast, is 9-10.
At least, however, Isner did offer the Ashe Stadium crowd something to linger on and cheer for after two and a half days of uncompetitive matches. Before him on Ashe, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus continued the trend of highly seeded players having little trouble, storming through her match against Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium. Azarenka, ranked No. 1, needed all of 65 minutes to win, 6-2, 6-2. “I’ve had a lot of practice, obviously,” deadpanned Isner, who won tournaments in Newport, R.I., and Winston-Salem, N.C., this summer. “Last week I won a tiebreaker at the end to win the tournament, and it gave me a lot of confidence. I wish I could make it a little easier on myself. I tend not to, as people know.”
She happily collected the easy victory, got a little more used to the wind that buffeted the stadium court, knowing her hard work is still ahead. As the top seed for the first time, she knows that like Isner, she is going to have to work harder to impress people. At least, however, Isner did offer the Ashe Stadium crowd something to linger on and cheer for after two and a half days of uncompetitive matches.
“The expectations are higher for sure,” she said. “There is a lot more attention. People expect you to play better. Before him on Ashe, Victoria Azarenka continued the trend of highly seeded players having little trouble, storming through her match against Kirsten Flipkens. Azarenka, ranked No. 1, needed all of 65 minutes to win, 6-2, 6-2.
She happily collected the easy victory and became a little more used to the wind that buffeted the stadium court, knowing her hard work is still ahead. As the top seed for the first time, she knows that, like Isner, she is going to have to work harder to impress people.
“The expectations are higher, for sure,” Azarenka said. “There is a lot more attention. People expect you to play better.
“For me, I always take it match by match, no matter where it is, what my ranking is. I have been doing it for pretty much my whole career. I try to stay humble and focused.”“For me, I always take it match by match, no matter where it is, what my ranking is. I have been doing it for pretty much my whole career. I try to stay humble and focused.”
No. 4 David Ferrer of Spain, not known for short matches, got through his first-round match relatively quickly with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory over Kevin Anderson of South Africa. Juan Martin del Potro, the No. 7 seed, knocked out Florent Serra of France, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Serra, a lucky loser from the qualifying tournament, earned a spot in the match on Wednesday morning because Del Potro’s scheduled opponent, David Nalbandian, withdrew. No. 4 David Ferrer, not known for short matches, got through his first-round match relatively quickly with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory over Kevin Anderson. Juan Martín del Potro, the No. 7 seed, knocked out Florent Serra, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Serra, a lucky loser from the qualifying tournament, earned a spot in the match on Wednesday morning because del Potro’s scheduled opponent, David Nalbandian, withdrew.
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, the fifth seed, enjoyed an easy victory over Alize Cornet of France, 6-4, 6-3. Li Na, the No. 9 seed in the women’s draw, defeated Casey Dellacqua of Australia, 6-4, 6-4. Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Petra Kvitova, the fifth seed, enjoyed an easy victory over Alize Cornet, 6-4, 6-3. Li Na, the No. 9 seed, defeated Casey Dellacqua, 6-4, 6-4.