2010 U.S. Open Day 2 Recap: Rafael Nadal Survives, Novak Djokovic Roars, Caroline Wozniacki Rocks

Highlights from a long, hot, at times interminable second day of first-round U.S. Open tennis:

• (1) Caroline Wozniacki def. Chelsey Gullickson, 6-1, 6-1.
Really, this isn’t bad at all for a first-time qualifier facing a No. 1 seed. Gullickson’s got a great backhand that will only grow fiercer with added control. As for Wozniacki? She played with a lethal efficiency that may have been born of wanting to get to bed already (this match didn’t even begin until almost midnight), but her hiccup-free performance belied the late hour.

• (1) Rafael Nadal def. Teymuraz Gabashvili, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
He’s not about to drop a set, nooooo, but Nadal knows we do not like him and kept America up late out of spite. And he was dressed horribly, but you probably could have guessed that.

• (3) Novak Djokovic def. Viktor Troicki, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Precious Serbian blossom Djokovic drooped in the sun for a time, but recovered nicely to brush off a mere qualifier.
• (19) Mardy Fish def. Jan Hajek, 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.
The newly be-svelted Fish drifted into choppy waters there for a bit, but put away Hajek with 24 aces and a definitive final two sets.
• James Blake def. Kristof Vliegen, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
To the astonishment of almost everyone watching, Blake had the handiest win of the day. All credit to his trusty headband!
• (14) Maria Sharapova def. Jarmila Groth, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
In another surprisingly easy match, first-set stumbles aside, Sharapova beat some scrub qualifier who didn’t deserve to win because her very name makes it clear she is not as pretty as Maria.
• (31) David Nalbandian def. Rik De Voest, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4.
Today’s was the kind of weather no one wants to be out in for very long; unfortunately, the heat is acting as a weird sort of equalizer in the daytime matches. This one danced dangerously close to the four-hour mark.
• (4) Jelena Jankovic def. Simona Halep, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
Late in this extended, sloppy match, ESPN’s Cliff Drysdale said these two combatants looked like “punch-drunk boxers,” and it’s hard to argue.
• (8) Fernando Verdasco def. Fabio Fognini, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Verdasco got one back from the fellow who knocked him out of Wimbledon in June, but not without a bizarro first-set faceplant.
For more U.S. Open coverage, visit SB Nation’s Daily Forehand.