US Open, Day 2: Ivanovic knocked out; Nishikori advances

Ana Ivanovic ousted in first round of US Open

Former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic suffered a shock 6-7(4), 1-6 loss against Denisa Allertova of Czech Republic in the women's singles first round at the 2016 US Open on Tuesday.

Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open winner, started off well but failed to maintain her momentum.

With the scored tied 6-6, the first set went into tie-break and the Serbian star failed to keep her nerves.

She completely collapsed in the second set, barely putting up a fight. She went down 1-6 to bring an end to her US Open campaign.

Nishikori fends off resilient Becker to advance

Kei Nishikori held off a fightback from Benjamin Becker and earned a 6-1 6-1 3-6 6-3 victory over the German veteran on Tuesday for a convincing start to his U.S. Open title bid.

The Japanese sixth seed stormed through the first two sets but the 35-year-old Becker took control in the third before Nishikori righted the ship in time to secure a spot in the second round.

"He started playing much better so it was tough third and fourth sets but luckily I got out of the last two games," said Nishikori. "It was a pretty good match."

Nishikori, the U.S. Open runner-up in 2014, will next play qualifier Karen Khachanov, a 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3 winner over Italy's Thomas Fabbiano.

Dimitrov to face Chardy in Rd 2; Ferrer advances

Grigor Dimitrov's run of strong play continued as the No. 22 seed beat Inigo Cervantes 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 and advanced into the second round. The Bulgarian will now face France's Jeremy Chardy, who won 6-4 6-4 6-1 against Michael Mmoh. 

David Ferrer is through to the second round. The Spaniard was leading 6-5 in the 1st set when his opponent Alexandr Dolgopolov was forced to to retire hurt.

There was another retirement in men's singles, when Philipp Kohlschreiber pulled out to concede a victory to Nicolas Mahut of France. 

Halep pounds Flipkens to reach second round

Fifth seed Simona Halep blasted her way into the second round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday by demolishing Kirsten Flipkens 6-0 6-2 underlining her credentials as a potential grand slam winner.

Halep, a winner of three WTA Tour events this season, including a hardcourt event in Montreal, carried her superb form into Flushing Meadows as she needed just one hour on a sun-splashed but almost vacant Arthur Ashe Stadium court to dismiss the 56th-ranked Belgian.