Murray’s Victory Is Easy, but It Doesn’t Come Quickly

Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times

Andy Murray, above, defeated Michael Llodra, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.

It was 9:55 p.m. Wednesday when Andy Murray finally took his first steps toward defending his United States Open title, on a soggy court, in front of a weary crowd, at the end of a very long, very trying tournament day.

It was somewhat fitting, considering how patiently Murray waited to win his first major title a year ago, that Wednesday's schedule would drip by as slowly as it did, interrupted by multiple rain delays, pushing the afternoon schedule well past nightfall.

At last, three full hours after he was expected to stroll into Arthur Ashe Stadium — and almost 59 hours after the tournament began — Murray took the court, looking slightly ruffled. He had minimal difficulty putting away the Frenchman Michael Llodra, though, winning, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.

"When the weather's like that, it's distressing for everyone," Murray said. "You just want to get on the court and play. Whether it's on Arthur Ashe or Court 15, it doesn't really matter. You just want to play."

And Murray-Llodra was only the penultimate match of the night in Ashe. The matchup between the 20-year-old Sloane Stevens and Urszula Radwanska began at 11:53 p.m., the second-latest start to a match in United States Open history, after a midnight start to a match on Sept. 2, 1987.

Stevens, the 15th seed, made quick work of Radwanska, 6-1, 6-1, in only 58 minutes to move into the third round.

In Louis Armstrong Stadium, James Blake fell in a fifth-set tie break to Ivo Karlovic, 7-6 (2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (2), just after midnight. If it was indeed the final match of Blake's career, he certainly ended it in dramatic fashion.

Still, Blake, who announced Monday that he would retire at the end of this tournament, bowed out earlier than expected. But the 6-foot-10 Karlovic, known for his bazooka serves, ultimately wore Blake, a 33-year-old Yonkers native, down.

"There's no good way to go out," Blake said. "I won't sleep a whole lot tonight. I definitely had opportunities and didn't take advantage."

Blake added: "It's been a long road. I've had a good journey since I was a kid sneaking in here to now, leaving as a grown man."

As if on cue Wednesday, amid all the discussion about how quickly the United States Tennis Association can build its retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium, rain scrambled the schedule, bringing more criticism to a first round that stretched over three days for the men.

A lengthy early-afternoon rain delay was followed less than 30 minutes later by another, making Day 3 a test of patience. There was more intermittent rain in the evening.

It was the second day that rain had interrupted the tournament. By late afternoon Wednesday, tournament officials, hoping to get the men's first round completed, had postponed eight women's singles matches for the day, including No. 1 Serena Williams's second-round meeting with Galina Voskoboeva.

That made Li Na one of the happier participants of the day. She took full advantage of her first-up position at Arthur Ashe Stadium to polish off a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden in an efficient 64 minutes.

Li, the fifth seed, was safely in the locker room before the first delay, through to the third round before some of the men, including Murray, had taken the court for a single match.

Arvidsson managed a break of Li's serve, but not much more, as Li played with a smile and a bounce in her step. She has rounded out her game with an eagerness to go to the net, which helps her use her speed to an even greater advantage. Against Arvidsson, she won 12 of the 17 points in which she rushed the net, looking as if she had played that way her whole career.

"I was pretty happy because at least I do what I have planned before the match," Li said. "I follow the game plan."

Li will next face Laura Robson of Britain, who knocked her out of the Open last year in the third round. Robson defeated France's Caroline Garcia, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Asked why she lost last year to Robson, Li said she was not yet ready to win this tournament. Now, she said, she would like to see how far she has come.

"I would really like this challenge," she said. "I can show myself after one year what I can do on the court."

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