By McCarton Ackerman, USTA.com
Two rookies gave the Team USA tennis squad its opening two victories of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
No. 7 seed Madison Keys gave Team USA its opening win on Saturday, not dropping serve in a dominant victory over Danka Kovinic of Montenegro, 6-3, 6-3. From 3-3 in the opening set, Keys went on a four-game run and established control the rest of the way. She grabbed the lone break of serve in the second set to lead 4-2 and held the lead for the remainder of the match.
Later in the day, No. 12 seed Steve Johnson brought home the first American win in Rio on the men’s side by defeating Darian King of Barbados, 6-3, 6-2. Johnson won the first 13 points on his serve and held the lead throughout the contest.
Next up for Keys is Kristina Mladenovic of France; the pair is even head-to-head, at 1-1. Johnson, meantime, Gastao Elias of Portugal for a spot in the round of 16.
In other matches held Saturday, No. 14 seed Jack Sock, Brian Baker, Denis Kudla, No. 5 seed Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens all dropped their opening matches.
World No. 1 Serena Williams, the defending gold medalist in women’s singles and doubles (with Venus), headlines first-round play on Sunday. The Williams sisters will also take to the court on Sunday for their opening-round doubles match.