1 Sep 2016

Kerber into third round, Raonic out

10:17 am on 1 September 2016

Second seed Angelique Kerber stayed on track in her quest to unseat Serena Williams as world number one by beating Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia in straight sets to reach the third round of the U.S. Open.

Germany's Angelique Gerber

Germany's Angelique Gerber Photo: Photosport

Australian Open winner Kerber rifled home an ace to finish the first set against the free swinging, 34-year-old Lucic-Baroni, then won a see-saw second set in which each player was broken three times on the way to a tiebreaker.

The Croat held two set points during the decider before losing it 9-7.

The left-handed German was one match win away in Cincinnati from ending Williams' long reign as number one before losing to Czech Karolina Pliskova in the final and has another chance to leapfrog the American at Flushing Meadows.

Lucic-Baroni raised her game in the second set, but could not overcome the steady Kerber as the big-hitting Croat blasted 37 winners while gifting the German with 55 unforced errors.

Unheralded American qualifier Ryan Harrison has scored the upset of the US Open, defeating Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic in the second round.

The 24-year-old Harrison, who was considered a huge talent as a teenager is now through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time after the 6-7 (7-4) 7-5 7-5 6-1 victory.

The world No.120 ranked American blunted the Raonic serve throughout the match, winning seven of 18 break points as the Canadian struggled with his game.

Raonic made a huge 62 unforced errors and served and uncharacteristic 15 double faults in the encounter.

Harrison will now play Cypriot veteran Marcos Baghdatis in the third round after Baghdatis himself caused a boilover, beating French 32nd seed Benoit Paire 6-2 6-4 3-6 6-4.

Meanwhile world men's number one Novak Djokovic received a free pass into the third round of the U.S. Open when Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic withdrew from their match due to a left forearm injury.

By outplaying Scot Andy Murray in the men's final, Djokovic, and the Grand Slams - the Australian, French, Wimbledon and US crowns - are the litmus test of true tennis greatness.

Novak Djokovic Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The walkover provided the top-seeded defending champion with an extended break to improve his niggling left wrist injury before his next match against either Guido Pella of Argentina or Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.

The 23-year-old Vesely, ranked 49th, beat Djokovic in the second round at the ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo event in April in their only meeting, making him one of two top 100 players with more wins than losses against the Serbian.

World number 23 Ivo Karlovic is 2-1 head-to-head against Djokovic.

-Reuters