Nadal posts straight-set win in opener

NEW YORK, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Rafael Nadal breezed to a straight-set victory over Teimuraz Gabashvili Tuesday in the opening round of the U.S. Open.

Nadal won 51 percent of Gabashvili's second serves and collected 30 winners en route to a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory.

The reigning Wimbledon and French Open champion is seeking his third straight Grand Slam title and first-ever appearance in a U.S. Open final. He advanced to meet Denis Istomin in the second round.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia and American Mardy Fish both prevailed in grueling, sun-baked first-round matches Tuesday.

Former Open runner-up Djokovic hung tough to outlast fellow Serb Viktor Troicki 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where on-court temperatures surpassed 100 degrees.

Djokovic, seeded third, survived a 23-ace barrage from Troicki to win a 3-hour, 40-minute marathon.

Nineteenth-seeded Fish had to go five sets to triumph over Czech Jan Hajek 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1, prevailing after 2 hours, 36 minutes on the Grandstand Court.

Fish notched his 17th win in 19 matches, including a runner-up finish against Roger Federer in Cincinnati.

In the biggest U.S. Open upset so far, Frenchman Arnaud Clement bounced 16th-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in five sets 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5. Baghdatis fired 22 aces but also racked up 48 unforced errors.