Merida cruises past Fucsovics in straight sets at US Open

Daniel Merida needed no third act in the US Open first round, brushing aside Marton Fucsovics 6-4 6-4 6-2 in a performance built almost entirely on serve. The Spaniard landed 70 percent of his first deliveries and won a remarkable 90.5 percent of those points, adding 66.7 percent behind his second, so genuine pressure on his own games rarely materialised. Fucsovics, by contrast, found only 60.2 percent of first serves, coughed up 11 double faults and took just 37.8 percent of second-serve points. That gulf decided the match and sent Merida through in comfort.