Rafael Nadal began US Open campaign with a win against John Millman as other leading seeds in his half of the draw tumbled out in the first round. Four players in the world's top 10 Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen Khachanov and Roberto Bautista Agut lost Tuesday to ease Nadal's potential path to the final. "The beginning, the first match, is always a little bit new even if I've played here plenty of times," said Nadal, who meets Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis next.
Russian ninth seed Khachanov lost to Canada's Vasek Pospisil in five sets, with 10th seed Bautista Agut of Spain succumbing in similar fashion to Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan to leave that quarter of the draw, which features Nick Kyrgios, wide open. Alexander Zverev, seeded sixth, battled into the second round by defeating Moldova's Radu Albot 6-1 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-2, while Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion, advanced in straight sets over Slovakia's Martin Klizan. Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, ousted in the opening round the past two years at Flushing Meadows, outlasted US lucky loser Nicole Gibbs 6-3 3-6 6-2.
