Federer wins opener, equals Agassi’s record

AP | Written on 30 Aug, 2011 at 10:57 in Sports, Tennis | viewed 924 times

New York: Roger Federer equalled Andre Agassi for the second-most Grand Slam wins in the Open era by defeating Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 Monday in the first round of the U.S. Open.

The third-seeded Federer, a 16-time major champion, now has 224 Grand Slam wins, nine behind Jimmy Connors.

Federer showed a few signs of rust, losing his serve three times, but this one was never in doubt. He improved to 12—0 in first—round matches at Flushing Meadows and 57 wins from 63 matches overall.

Federer, who turned 30 on Aug. 8, is trying to win at least one major tournament for the ninth straight year and become the first 30-something man to win a Grand Slam title since Agassi won the 2003 Australian Open.