US Open girls’ singles: India’s Maaya Rajeswaran gets off to a confident start

Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi NEW YORK: Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi, the 15th seed, made a confident start to her US Open girls’ singles campaign, seeing off 15-year-old American Emery Combs in the first round.The 17-year-old Indian started quickly against the world No.92, racing to a 4-0 lead, but Combs battled back to take the next two games. Maaya then reeled off seven straight games to take a 5-0 lead in the second set when the American broke as the 15th seed served for the match.Maaya won 6-2, 6-2 in 70 minutes.“I’m glad I got through the first round, which is always difficult,” she said. “I’m playing her for the first time, I didn’t really know the opponent. I was a little nervous going in there, but I think I’m glad I overcame it all and played a good match overall.”Maaya will face qualifier Arina Malyginova of Russia in the second round.It wasn’t the best day on the courts for Arnav Paparkar, who lost 4-6, 1-6 to 12th-seeded American Andrew Johnson in the first round of the boys’ singles.Paparkar, who is ranked No. 18 in the world, struggled with his serve, hitting just 52 percent of his first serves and hitting six double faults. In the match, he was able to convert only three of 10 break opportunities, while the American converted six of eight.“My biggest weapon didn’t work today, I’ve been struggling with it for the last couple of weeks. I couldn’t figure out what the problem was,” Paparkar said. “He’s got a great backhand, I knew that, so I was attacking his forehand, but I couldn’t do much damage without my best shot.In the men’s doubles, Sriram Balaji and American Evan King faced 12th seeds Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France and Hugo Nys of Monaco, losing 4-6, 5-7 in their second-round clash.