Wawrinka oldest man to win US Open match in 31 years

NEW YORK, Aug 30 (AFP): Former US Open champion Stan Wawrinka on Tuesday became the oldest man to win a match at the tournament since 40-year-old Jimmy Connors in 1992.
Wawrinka, 38, earned his first win in New York in four years as he beat Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-4 in the opening round.
"I think I'm playing well. I'm not trying to compare from the past because it's never good idea to compare a few years ago what I was doing," said Wawrinka, who lifted the US Open trophy in 2016.
"But I'm happy with my level. I know where I am right now. I know I can beat some really good players. I can be really competitive. I'm moving well."
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz launched the defence of his US Open crown with a brisk victory after his opponent suffered an injury on Tuesday as third seed Daniil Medvedev strolled into the second round with a quick-fire win.
Alcaraz, returning to the same Arthur Ashe Stadium court where he lifted his first Grand Slam as a teenager a year ago, was always in control after Germany's Dominik Koepfer rolled his left ankle badly in the opening game.
Koepfer tried to continue despite being in obvious discomfort, but finally called it quits while trailing 3-2 in the second set after dropping the first 6-2.
"That's not the best way to get through into another round," said world number one Alcaraz. "But I have to say on my side I was playing great."
Alcaraz, who faces Lloyd Harris of South Africa in the second round, is on course to face 2021 US Open champion Medvedev in the semi-finals.
Medvedev opened his account on Tuesday with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Hungary's Attila Balazs in just 74 minutes.
The Russian will face Australia's Christopher O'Connell in the second round on Thursday for a spot in the last 32.