• US Open, Day One

Murray's grandad dancing

Kim Clijsters is not yet ready to wave goodbye © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Murray wants to avoid Australian Open boycott
  

ESPN will be providing extensive coverage of the US Open, with live scores, commentary and analysis and you can follow it all with our live scorecentre

Missing out on gold
Sam Stosur stormed into round two with a 52-minute demolition of Petra Martic.The defending champion was brilliant on serve and fleet-of-foot around the court. And she came so close to pulling off a golden set. Such a feat is when a player wins a set without dropping a single point. Having won 19 points on the spin at the start of the match, it was on. But the crowd on Arthur Ashes court let out a collective groan when Stosur sent down a double fault at 40-0 in the fifth game.

Frightning stuff for Ferrer
Roughly 90 minutes into the US Open and the debate about covers and roofs reared its head. Yes, the heavens opened at Flushing Meadows and the site was given a real soaking. The day started in bright sunshine and the rain arrived in the blink of an eye, catching David Ferrer out in particular. The Spaniard was getting in a bit of practice when the skies darkened and within a flash, the courts were under water. Such was the ferociousness of the rain, it caused Ferrer let out a yelp of horror before he was seen scurrying for cover. It's okay David, we won't tell anyone.

Murray shank
A bit like when you see a professional golfer top the ball, you get a warm glow when a tennis player makes the sort of elementary error that a Sunday hacker would berate himself for. It was Andy Murray's turn on this occasion. He tracked down a drop shot and played one of his own, which Alex Bogomolov could only flip up for an easy Murray put away. But it did not go to script as Murray contrived to hit the ball with the neck of his racket and the ball dropped into the net.

More than a breath of wind
At 2-1 in the second set, Bogomolov looked set to secure a winner as he approached the net but a piece of paper fluttered on to court, catching his eye, and he duly put his shot into the net. The Russian expected a let to be called, but umpire Pascal Maria seemingly failed to see what the vast majority of the crowd and Bogomolov picked up on and the point stood in Murray's favour.

Grandad dancing
Andy Murray has been called a drama queen in the past, but there's little chance of the ABBA favourite Dancing Queen being mentioned in the same breath as the British No. 1 judged on the footwork shown when he was struck down by cramp. Such is Murray's hunger, with the match seemingly in safe keeping he went in pursuit of a drop shot. He got to the ball but when pushing off again he got a jolt in the shape of a touch of cramp. We've all had it, where the leg goes into spasm and will not do as it's told. It is normally shrugged off with a touch of sympathy, but with cameras trained on you it does not play out that way as the sight of Murray taking faltering steps revived memories of your grandad at a wedding when a Neil Diamond track is picked out by the DJ.

That winning feeling
There's nothing quite like winning to breed confidence and Kim Clijsters, despite all the concerns about her fitness, must be on the crest of a wave. After a shaky start the Belgian disposed of Victoria Duval with the minimum of fuss - making it 22 wins on the spin at Flushing Meadows. Having missed last year on account of injury, Clijsters entered the arena having not lost in the event since 2003. Tougher challenges lie ahead, Laura Robson in the second round, but what a way it would be to finish a career

Fed express in full flight
Some of Roger Federer's showreel moments have come on Arthur Ashe court. He has perfected the hotdog and played some freakishly-good shots down the years and he produced another moment of magic during his win over Donald Young. The American threw up a fine lob that landed on the baseline, forcing Federer to track back. The percentage play, anticipated by Young, was to hit the ball cross court but instead he stepped back and drilled a smash from the baseline down the line for a clean winner. It really was awesome.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.