Andy Soars Past Serra At US OPEN

After a slight rain delay, the sun came out as Andy took to Arthur Ashe Stadium Court and took down France’s Florent Serra 6-2,6-1,6-3 in 80 minutes. Andy broke Serra more times than Serra held serve, and fired 10 aces, the fastest hitting the back wall at 148mph, and 25 winners to earn his ticket to Wednesday’s Round Two match-up against either Alberto Martin or Kristian Pless.To much applause and “Let’s go, Andy!”’s, Andy and Serra warmed up to JLo’s “Let Get Loud” to get pumped up for this afternoon’s match. Andy opened the match serving, but Serra made it clear from the first return that he was going to put a fight. Each player held serve to 3-2 when Andy decided it was time to put the pedal to the metal and capitalized on a patiently played game, taking the break to lead 4-2, celebrating with a fist pumping, “Yes!” Andy held onto the lead and accelerated through this set, not letting Serra win another game, 6-2.Andy easily opened the second set holding serve, and put heavy pressure on the Frenchman at the net and took an early lead at 2-0. “You’re making Jimmy proud,” came echoing down from the top tier, and Andy continued to do so by sending a 148mph ace to seal the lead at 3-0. Serra found his serve midway through the second set to get on the scoreboard 3-1. Battling a few clever points by both players, Andy edged ahead at 4-1 with a big “Yeah!” Andy earned a triple break point and clinched a 5-1 lead, but faced a triple break point on his serve in the next game. Serra couldn’t fight the American’s power and shot placement and Andy closed the gap and the set, 6-1.

In the Open, they play best 3 out of 5 sets, and Andy showed a little frustration on a few mixed calls when trying to close out the set and dropped serve late in the match, luckily not impacting the outcome. Andy played some great volleys, a key one to take the break again at 2-1, controlling the court and the set the entire time. Serra was spraying balls just wide and long all afternoon, but moreso in the third set that gave Andy another triple break point and a bigger lead, 4-1. The players went on to hold and Andy was serving for the set at 5-2 as the light at the end of the “US Open First Round” tunnel was getting brighter. After a small conversation with the chair umpire on what should have been a let on Andy’s first serve and Andy casually hit it to the ballboy, giving Serra the point, Andy dropped the game in frustration, 5-3. Going to the towel to regroup is all he needed to refocus, break back, and take the match- 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.

The sky was grey and so was Andy’s Lacoste polo today, but it certainly was a bright afternoon for the fans at Flushing Meadows! Stay tuned for more Andy at the Open. Go Andy!