New York (AFP)

In the aftermath of a storm that killed several people in New York, tennis resumed Thursday at the US Open, where Alexander Zverev and Ashleigh Barty advanced to the third round, before the second match of Novak Djokovic in search of a Grand Historic slam.

In the meantime, he must have seen that the competition was polishing his weapons, since Zverev, his main rival on the road to the final, because placed in the same part of the table, took only 1h15 minutes to get rid of the Spaniard. Albert Ramos 6-1, 6-0, 6-3.

So at full speed and by making a show of force, which sickened his opponent.

Further proof of the excellent form of the German, gold medalist at the Tokyo Games, after having dismissed the Serbian in the semifinals, then winner of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati ten days ago.

"It's great that I went through three sets and just over an hour. I'll need that energy, that power for the next matches. I'm happy that I only lost four games," welcomed Zverev, all smiles after the match.

The joy of the German Alexander Zverev, winner in three sets of the Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas, in the second round of the US Open, September 2, 2021 in New York Sarah Stier GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

Overthrown in the final last year by the Austrian Dominic Thiem, the world No. 4 had fingered, with two points, a first Major title.

"It was painful. I still remember it with every step I take on this court. I use it as motivation", said the one will be opposed to the Kazakh Alexander Bublik (37th) or to the American Jack Sock (184th) in the 3rd round.

- New York in tatters -

In the evening, Novak Djokovic will try to continue his road to glory.

The world No. 1, who lost a set when he entered the competition against the 18-year-old Dane, Holger Rune, will face the modest Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (121st).

A second step out of the seven to climb to try to succeed in the Grand Slam over the year, a performance that has not been achieved for men since Rod Laver in 1969, and which, moreover, would bring to 21 the record for Majors won by Djokovic and would place him alone in the Tennis Hall of Fame, above Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent due to injuries.

Before this 4th sunny day went off without a hitch, it was chaos in Flushing Meadows, like all around New York, left in tatters by torrential rains that left at least 17 people dead in the region, according to a latest official report. .

Vehicles are abandoned along the Major Deegan Expressway, September 2, 2021 in the Bronx, after torrential rains that fell the day before, following the passage of Cyclone Ida SPENCER PLATT GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

These remnants of post-tropical cyclone Ida, which ravaged the Louisiana coast of New Orleans last weekend, caused flooding that crippled the American megalopolis, forcing local authorities to declare a state of emergency.

- Serene Barty -

After passing dozens of abandoned cars littering the roads leading to Flushing Meadows, on a journey plagued by endless traffic jams throughout the New York area, spectators finally arrived in dribbles at the Center site. National Billie Jean King, Queens.

The former have barely filled the huge central Arthur Ashe to see Ashleigh Barty beat, 6-1, 7-5, the Danish Clara Tauson (78th), under a well and truly returned sun.

The world No. 1, who won her second major crown at Wimbledon in July, has, as usual, started the meeting with a bang, relying on her big first ball (11 aces).

Dominant in the exchanges, she made speak her power, chaining the winning blows (33 against 14), but had a little more trouble in the second round, Tauson managing to break free at 5-5.

Barty however quickly reacted by resuming the service of the Dane to conclude in 1h30 min.

Australia's Ashleigh Barty, during her US Open second round match against Denmark's Clara Tauson, on September 2, 2021 in New York ANGELA WEISS AFP

"I've always been a fairly calm person. And that reflects on my game," said the Australian who will play in the next round against Romania's Sorana Cirstea (39th) or American Shelby Rogers (43rd).

Other qualified, the Polish Iga Swiatek (8th), although manhandled by the French Fiona Ferro (3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0), the Czech Petra Kvitova (11th), the Swiss Belinda Bencic (12th) and the Greek Maria Sakkari (18th).

© 2021 AFP