Kei Nishikori has become the first man to advance to the US Open second round as the 2014 finalist beat qualifier Marco Trungelliti, who was forced to retire with the Japanese leading 6-1 4-1 on Monday.
Nishikori’s serve clicked from the start and the seventh seed won 90 per cent of his first-serve points while never facing a break point against the Argentine in 47 minutes on Grandstand court.
Trungelliti, playing in his first grand slam main draw match since the 2018 French Open, needed treatment on his upper body during a changeover in the second set.
He then whacked a ball in frustration after a serve hit the net, and said he couldn’t continue playing.
Next up for Nishikori at flushing Meadows is a second-round clash with Thiago Monteiro or Bradley Klahn.
World No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic is due on court morning before five-times winner Roger Federer closes the night session on Arthur Ashe court.