NEW YORK: Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep, battling back from injury, advanced to the second round of the US Open on Monday as the hardcourts showdown began before full-capacity crowds.

The 29-year-old Romanian 12th seed defeated Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) to book a second-round match against Slovakian lucky loser Kristina Kucova, who ousted American Ann Li 7-5, 6-1.

Halep, the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon champion, tore a left calf muscle at the Italian Open, missed the French Open and Wimbledon, then suffered a right thigh injury at Cincinnati, but made a solid New York start.

Halep fired six aces and won 83% of her first serve points, hitting 14 winners against 16 unforced errors while taking advantage of 31 unforced errors by Giorgi.

Play started with fans back in the stands for the final Grand Slam tournament of the season.

The event was held without spectators last year due to the pandemic but stands are allowed to be filled to 100% capacity this year.

Those 12 and older must show proof of at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to enter the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, after a change in policy was announced on Friday.

The opening match in Arthur Ashe Stadium was set for noon, with past champion Sloane Stephens facing fellow American Madison Keys in a rematch of their 2017 final.

Naomi Osaka, the defending women’s champion, was scheduled to lead off the night session in Ashe, while Russian Daniil Medvedev, the runner-up in 2019, takes on France’s Richard Gasquet.

The year’s final Grand Slam has been stripped of some of the sport’s marquee names, with Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams injured, but still promises to be a major draw after playing to empty stands a year ago, as Novak Djokovic bids to complete the calendar-year slam.

The Serb needs a New York triumph to become the third man, and first since Rod Laver in 1969, to accomplish the feat.

On Monday, Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady, Jelena Ostapenko and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew from the event due to injury.

Brady, a semi-finalist last year in Flushing Meadows, has not played competitively since being forced to retire from her second-round match against Ostapenko in Cincinnati. The US Tennis Association did not specify her injury.

Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, also pulled out for medical reasons while 2008 Australian Open finalist Tsonga has a right leg injury.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2021