US Open | Zverev and Dimitrov are hot but not shaking

(New York) In the humid heat of New York, Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov qualified without trembling for the second round of the United States Open, while the defending champions Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic are expected in the evening.

Zverev, 4^e world, overcame the resistance of the Frenchman Alexandre Müller (77^e) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.

The German, finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2020, showed himself to be solid and in control against Müller who did not give up until losing the tiebreaker in the second set.

Zverev will face Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (33) on Friday.^e) for a place in the round of 16.

Etcheverry will have to regain his strength since he fought for 4 hours and 4 minutes to get rid of his compatriot Francisco Cerundolo (29).^e) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

At the start of the program, Dimitrov (9^e), he beat the Australian Ricky Hijikata (62^e) 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), very happy not to be drawn into a fourth set while court 17 was transformed into a sauna.

The 33-year-old Bulgarian, a semi-finalist in New York in 2019, will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (40) in the third round.^e) who was leading 6-1, 2-0 when his Brazilian opponent Sebastian Baez (23^e) gave up.

Towards a Tiafoe-Shelton clash

American Frances Tiafoe also benefited from his opponent’s retirement: the 2022 semi-finalist was leading 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 when Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko (61^e), physically diminished, threw in the towel.

Tiafoe could meet his compatriot Ben Shelton (13) in the next round^e), semi-finalist last year. The latter still has to beat the Spaniard Roberto Bautista (67^e).

Novak Djokovic, who at 37 is seeking the absolute record of 25 Grand Slam titles after winning the Olympic gold medal in singles this summer, must face his compatriot Laslo Djere (109) at the end of the night session on the Arthur-Ashe court.^e).

The world number 2, after his first round already played at the end of the programme, had clearly indicated that he did not like playing so late: at night yes, but in the first match of the session.

The organizers did not hear him since he will play last again, after Coco Gauff (3^e) will have faced the German Tatjana Maria (99^e).