2010 U.S. Open: Day 1 Recap

We’ve got all the tennis that’s fit to print, with a roundup of opening-day action from Flushing Meadows:
• (9) Andy Roddick def. Stephane Robert, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
All smiles and not a hiccup for the birthday boy and stateside favorite. Robert was quite terrible, which is apparently a side effect of facing three sets of serves in excess of 120 MPH. U-S-A! U-S-A!
• (3) Venus Williams def. Roberta Vinci, 6-4, 6-1.
For a match with an outcome supposedly in some doubt thanks to a long layoff for Williams, this wasn’t even fair. As long as she didn’t injure herself further, Venus’ chances are in great shape.
• (1) Roger Federer def. Brian Dabul, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
And speaking of not even fair ... Federer’s greatest gift may be his endless supply of shots there are simply no answer for, by virtue of the other party Not Being Roger Federer.
• (2) Kim Clijsters def. Greta Arn, 6-0, 7-5.
The defending U.S. Open champ has now won fifteen straight matches at Flushing Meadows, a stat that wasn’t always a sure thing this afternoon -- Clijsters trailed 0-4 at one point in the second set.
• Melanie Oudin def. Olga Savchuk, 6-3, 6-0.
The shoes did not fail this Cinderella, and pop nicely against the blue courts, so bully for adidas and for America’s sweetheart.
• Paul-Henri Mathieu def. (32) Lleyton Hewitt, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1.
Hewitt’s second-half comeback looked promising, but he was completely gassed by the end of a match that flirted with the four-hour mark and ultimately surrendered on a double fault. This is almost too predictable an outcome to even qualify as news, so if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to go curl up in a Fosters keg for a few hours and mourn our sentimental, brahsome favorite.
• (24) Daniela Hantuchova def. Dinara Safina, 6-3, 6-4.
With Safina visibly rattled for much of the match, this wasn’t even as close as it looked. Hantuchova should garner opening day best-dressed honors, for her simple hot magenta number.
• (17) Gael Monfils def. Robert Kendrick, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4.
The first of two five-set screamers in opening-round action, Monfils’ match lasted more than three hours (which sort of feels silly to talk about after this past Wimbledon, no?).
• (5) Robin Söderling def. Andreas Haider-Maurer, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 5-7, 6-4.
The afternoon’s next epic ran close to four hours and saw 74 unforced errors on the part of everybody’s favorite stubbly Swede.
MISCELLANY OF INTEREST: German soccer hooligans are apparently to blame for Serena Williams’ absence ... Check out the tech scoop on all the nifty, nerdy ways you can track the tournament from the comfort of your own lap ... And if anyone’s got video of the twelve-year-old kid who sang a nineteen-minute version of the national anthem at tonight’s opening ceremonies, we’ll pay handsomely (in internet shoutouts).
For more U.S. Open coverage, visit SB Nation’s Daily Forehand.