NEW YORK -- Roger Federer isnt at the US Open for the first time since 1999. His Swiss countryman, friend and one-time understudy Stan Wawrinka -- himself a veteran of 11 previous pilgrimages to Flushing Meadows -- doesnt miss him at all.Could it be because Wawrinka, who eliminated the dangerous Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-4?in a first-round match Tuesday, has spent his career living in Federers shadow?Or it might be because the realities of the profession demand that camaraderie be left behind with a used boarding pass once a player arrives at a tournament and begins to compose his game face.More likely, its because Federer has been both a sympathetic ear and obstacle. Practice partner and potential dream wrecker. You cant spell tormentor without the word mentor. Last year, Wawrinka reached the semifinals at the US Open for just the second time. Guess who beat him then?Counting that straight-sets beat down, in which Wawrinka won just eight games, Federer is 5-1 against Wawrinka in Grand Slam meetings. His absence makes Wawrinkas heart grow fonder. After dispatching Verdasco, Wawrinka spoke glowingly of Federer. But only to a point.Its hard for the tournament, for the fans, for the tennis, for everybody, Wawrinka said. Roger is so important for the tennis. Its unfortunate hes injured for the rest of the year. Its not the best for the tournament.Yes, but do you miss him in a more personal way?No.So much for the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid motif. This is tennis. Welcome to the shark tank.Wawrinkas clash with Verdasco was one of the most compelling matchups of the first round. Both are muscular bruisers who drop anchor at the baseline and swing from the heels. Verdasco, in particular, passes on fanciful forays and considers hitting harder as the option to hitting hard. Both men built reputations as dangerous underachievers through their early 20s. They were long on ka-boom, short on the problem-solving ability, self-control, mental strength and resilience needed to carry a player to major titles.They have a lively history. Verdasco, a year older at 32, led the rivalry 3-2 before this meeting. But Wawrinka, seeded third here and No. 3 in the world rankings, won their only previous Grand Slam meeting in straight sets in 2015 at Wimbledon. Their overall records are surprisingly comparable: Verdasco is 456-330 for his career, Wawrinka, 426-245. Wawrinkas ship finally came in when he won the first of his two Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open at age 28 in 2014. Verdascos has yet to arrive. Given his age, its becoming hard to imagine it ever will.It helped the slow learner Wawrinka to have Federer as a friend and paragon. Fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal might have fulfilled a similar role for Verdasco, but while Verdasco climbed as high as No. 7 during Nadals peak years, he never did crack the Grand Slam champions code. Tuesdays match helped illustrate why Verdasco hasnt punched through.Verdasco had three break points in the first set, while Wawrinka rummaged around in his memory looking for his A-game. But Verdasco, ranked No. 46, couldnt convert one. Verdasco began the tiebreaker with a mini-break but promptly lost the next two points, with serve, and would never regain the lead. Wawrinkas game jelled after that. He made just six unforced errors and never gave Verdasco a look at a break point in the second set. Verdasco failed to convert the only break point he had in the final set as well.Wawrinka breathed a great sigh of relief after the win; first rounds against quality opponents always invite anxiety. He was especially happy with the way he moved against a dangerous ball striker who doesnt give his opponents much time or rhythm.I was moving really well for first one, Wawrinka said. Im getting some confidence from that match.He might be getting confidence, but he might not be getting the appropriate measure of respect. Just the other day, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic was breaking down the state of the Big Four. He said:Its a little bit spread out. You have Roger, who was always there, unfortunately unable to be playing. ... You have Andy [Murray] and Novak [Djokovic], who have pretty much led the charge of those Big Four -- have been leading it at least throughout this year. Rafa is still one of the most dangerous players on tour. Youve got to navigate your way through.Granted, Wawrinka isnt one of the Big Four. But with Federer out and Nadal wobbly at best, shouldnt he be part of the conversation? Whoever wants to navigate through might find him in the way. 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Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. The second day of the League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) played out accordingly to the preordained script -- at for the most part. The chalk teams won out and the underdogs were rolled upon.It was business as usual for the defending Worlds Champions, SKT Telecom T1, in the teams first match over the North American squad Cloud 9. The clinic began in the lane phase with star mid laner, Lee Faker Sang-hyeok shutting down Cloud 9s main playmaker, Nicolaj Jensen Jensen. From there, the Korean juggernauts were vultures picking off their prey, and they systematically finished the match with ease.It was another crushing victory for Chinese Royal Never Give Up (RNG) over a very overwhelmed Splyce. The second seed from the Chinese region came out of day two as one of the top contenders for the championship. The new patient and macro-intensive focus in the lane phase combined with the teams superior team fighting prowess is a matchup nightmare for any opponent.Winners of the day: I May and Team SoloMidI May played a complete game against the Flash Wolves. Even when the balance of the match was even, I May made the correct plays to stunt the growth of the major disrupters, Huang Maple Yi-Tang and jungler Hung Karsa Hau-Hsuan. The Chinese squad played great defense around its Varus pick and made crisp decisions for neutral objectives and map control. This is a team to scout out for because of Jinshan Jinjiao Xie and Hawoon Athena Kangs balanced attack.Team SoloMid (TSM) shook off the defeat of yesterday and utterly smashed through Samsung Galaxy. Samsungs mistakes from yesterday (overextension, poor execution in rotations and fights, and weak vision control) were exploited to the maximum degree and suffocated the teams chances for a comeback. The TSM dissection started early with a 4K gold lead at 10 minutes and never relented. This was a necessary bounce-back victory for the best North American team.Losers of the day: Samsung Galaxy and INTZ e-SportsWith so little time for improvement and turnover, Samsung Galaxys shortcomings were fleshed out and exposed by a superior team.dddddddddddd The South Koreans inconsistencies that reared its ugly head toward the end of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) split continued on day two. Despite the talent on the roster, it did not factor into the indecision and directionless approach that came after the team lost its lane phase. The resolve must be stronger, the decision-making needs to be direct, and the rotations must be clean for the remainder of the group stage, or its lights out.Just when the INTZ e-Sports hype train was ready to leave the station, reality in the form of H2K delayed the destination. In a matchup of eerily similar styles and objectives, it was the veteran European team that took firm control and dominated the short game. It took only 30 minutes for the clock to strike midnight and slap the sense back into the International Wildcard darlings of day one. That said, the loss in a macro game plan against arguably one of the better macro teams was no insult and the pool play is just in its infancy. INTZ e-Sports can still pull off a miracle tournament run, but it will take more than a dominating top lane snowball to do so.Team that needed improvement: Flash WolvesOn paper, it was tough to pick a winner out of I May and Flash Wolves, but the game was effectively over from the draft phase. This is a team with plenty of talent that should scare off opposition starting with playmaking jungler, Karsa to the damage-dealers, Maple and Wen NL An Hsiung. It was just disappointing to see a draft that did not fit the abilities of these skilled individuals. Instead of consistent and reliable engage or even longer-range poke, it was a low wave-clear and siege lineup that relied on too many variables from the opposing side. If Flash Wolves want to be on winners column, it starts with the draft. ' ' '
