Sport

Nadal and Williams sisters fire out warning to rivals

Trio turn on a masterclass of power hitting on first day of US Open in New York

Serena Williams serves during her first-round women’s singles match against Francesca Schiavone. Williams defeated Schiavone 6-0, 6-1. Photograph: Uli Seit/The New York Times
Serena Williams serves during her first-round women’s singles match against Francesca Schiavone. Williams defeated Schiavone 6-0, 6-1. Photograph: Uli Seit/The New York Times
Tue Aug 27 2013 - 10:26

Rafa Nadal made an ominous return to the US Open last night while the sister act of Serena and Venus Williams shared the spotlight as the last grand slam of the year got underway.

Roared on by the energetic Flushing Meadows crowds, the trio turned on a masterclass of power hitting at Arthur Ashe Stadium before New York's fickle weather brought proceedings to an early end.

A late rain shower forced tournament organisers to abandon the opening day's play before former world number one Roger Federer was about start his match against Slovenia's Grega Zemlja.

Nadal, who missed last year's US Open because of a chronic knee problem, demonstrated his intentions to make up for lost time as he demolished American wildcard Ryan Harrison 6-4 6-2 6-2 during the day session. Bouncing around the unforgiving hardcourt, the Spaniard chalked up 28 winners despite the blustery conditions.

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“For me, the chance to be back here playing is great,” said Nadal. “The first match after two years in the Arthur Ashe is a great feeling.”

Serena Williams needed just one hour to remind everyone why she remains the overwhelming favourite to win the women's title as she demolished Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-0 6-1. The American showed no mercy against her opponent, who won the French Open in 2010 and was a finalist in Paris the following year, conceding just 23 points in the 60-minute romp.

"I knew playing a former grand slam champion in the first round was a really tough draw so I decided to be super serious," she said. Not to be outdone, her older sister Venus rolled back the years with a headturning appearance on the centre court. With no repeat of the injury problems that have sidelined her for most of the year as she dispatched Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-2.

The 33-year-old, the second oldest player in the women’s singles draw, provided a glimpse of the form that saw her win the US Open in 2000 and 2001 as she strolled to a surprisingly quick win.

“It’s good to be back,” said Williams, who has only played 18 matches this year and slipped to 60th in the world rankings while Flipkens is enjoying the best season of her career. The 27-year-old made the semi-finals at Wimbledon in July, her best result at any grand slam, and was seeded 12th but found Williams too hot.

Flipkens was the first notable casualty on a day where most of the top players safely made it through. China's Li Na, the 2011 French Open champion and runner-up in Australia this year, needed just 64 minutes to crush Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-2 6-2. And Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, the third seed, was even more ruthless, thumping Spain's Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-1 6-2 in 63 minutes in the opening match.

There was an early upset in the men's draw when Japan's Kei Nishikori, Asia's highest-ranked man, was beaten 6-4 6-2 6-2 by English qualifier Dan Evans, ranked 179th. "It's definitely a good one," said Evans, playing in his first US Open.

“That was pretty good out there to play so well and against someone so highly ranked.”