New York: Rafael Nadal made a strong statement as he overpowered his American opponent Ryan Harrison by 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in a match that went on till two-hour and six-minutes and advanced into the second round of the US Open here on Monday.
 

Last year, the Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the US Open because of the knee injury. Meanwhile on Monday, the match was halted for a few minutes as light rain made the court slick, though an official rain delay wasn't called out.

Meanwhile, in an upset, 11th seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori. Nishikori was ousted in the straight sets by Daniel Evans 4-6, 2-6 in one hour and 57 minutes on Monday.
 

Nishikori himself was responsible for this downhill as he committed 38 unforced errors and to make the matters worse, he missed seven off nine break points. Five off these nine came in the final set but by that time his exit from the US Open was almost assured.
 

This elimination has also brought some good news for five-time US Open champion, Roger Federer, as Nishikori was the only one who was looking capable of stopping him to make it to the quarter-finals of the tournaments. If Federer finds his winning run, then he has the chances of meeting Nadal for the first time at the US Open.
 

Meanwhile in the women singles category, former two-time US Open champion, Venus Williams managed to win her opening game against the No. 12 seed Kirsten Flipkens as she defeated her opponent from Belgium in straight sets by 6-1, 6-2. Williams is currently ranked 60th on the WTA tour.
 

Earlier this month, Flipkens defeated Williams in Toronto 0-6, 6-4, 6-2.
 

In yet another match of Women singles, Sloane Stephens was having her back against her wall when she lost her opening set but as the match progressed her ascendancy got better off Mandy Minella of Luxembourg 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).