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This is my tennis blog, Lefty Advantage. Tennis is my biggest passion in life and I started this site to discuss the great game. I mainly follow the career of Roger Federer, but I truly love watching all tennis, whether it be the final of a Grand Slam
or a junior tournament on the other side of the world.

I have played tennis for 13 years. If you ever met me, I could talk your head off about all things tennis for hours on end if you would let me. Welcome, and enjoy the writing!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Federer Eases By Young

The final Grand Slam of 2012 got underway on Monday, and after a 2-hour rain delay, play resumed just as usual.  Roger Federer, back as the #1 seed for the first time since the French Open in 2010, took out Donald Young 63 62 64 in a simple, straightforward match.  Meanwhile, Andy Murray advanced to the 2nd round, but in unconvincing fashion.

Federer and Young had never met before, and the conditions were windy yet humid, as they had been all day.  Young held his own for the first few games until his luck ran out and he was broken, which led to the set being won by Roger quickly, taking the final eight points.

The second set was more of the same.  Roger was never under any pressure, though he did get broken, for the first time in his past six matches.  Once that happened though, early in the set, it was cruise control from there.  Young kept trying his best in the third set but Roger got the early break and put his foot down from there, closing things out in fine form.

In my opinion, Young played about as well as he could have.  He did well in the first and third sets, but in the end, he never really had much to hurt Fed with.  He tried going to his backhand, but unlike Rafa Nadal, Young doesn't have that same kick to give that side any headaches.  Overall, Roger was probably playing in 2nd or 3rd gear, as he didn't need to raise his level of play the entire match.  He also looked a little frustrated at times, perhaps with the wind.

Roger is now 22-0 in US Open night matches.  In the 2nd round, he plays German Bjorn Phau.

Andy Murray swept by Alex Bogomolov Jr. 62 64 61, but it was a pretty scrappy match, and not a smooth ride despite the scoreline.  Andy got down a break twice in the opening set before winning 5 straight games to win it, and then got down a break immediately in the second.  His form will need to be much better if he wants to get to the semis.

Other than that, it was a pretty uneventful day on the men's side.  Mardy Fish and James Blake advanced (nice to see Blake win), while Jack Sock took out Florian Mayer, the #22 seed, in straight sets (Mayer retired midway through the 3rd).  Marin Cilic avoided upset by coming back from two sets down to defeat Marinko Matosevic, and Gilles Simon came back from two sets to one down to take out Michael Russell.

On the women's side, the only real upsets were the two big-hitting Germans Julia Georges and Sabine Lisicki exiting the tournament.

Kim Clijsters, who is playing in her final tournament ever, easily defeated the youngest player in the draw, 16 year-old Victoria Duval.  It would be very nice to see Kim go out with her fourth US Open title, but she could face Li Na in the 3rd round.  Li has been in amazing form recently, making the final in Montreal and winning Cincinnati.

(Goodness, you know it was a quiet day on the men's side when I'm talking this much about the women.)

Day 2 features Novak Djokovic, Serena and Venus Williams, and Andy Roddick.

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