Experience may prove decisive in second round

G Pella v M Youzhny
Flavia Pennetta showed the value of maturity by winning last year’s US Open women’s title at the age of 33 and experience holds the key for 34-year-old Russian Mikhail Youzhny, as he bids to win today’s men’s second-round clash against Guido Pella.

Youzhny had been sliding down the rankings and touched a low of 153 in October 2015. However, he is playing much better this year and was up to 61st in the world before dismantling Martin Klizan (the 28th seed) 6-2 6-1 6-1 in his first-round outing.

The Russian has achieved some of his best results at Flushing Meadows – reaching the semi-finals in 2006 and 2010 and the quarters in 2013 – and his impressive record at the venue is in stark contrast to that of Pella, who had suffered three consecutive US Open first-round losses until defeating American wildcard Bjorn Fratangelo 6-3 6-4 6-4 on Monday.