Tennis

With MJ on his side, Federer wins US Open opener

Published Aug. 26, 2014 9:33 p.m. ET

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NEW YORK (AP) Growing up as a basketball fan, Roger Federer had a poster of Michael Jordan hanging on his bedroom wall. On Tuesday night, Federer won a first-round match at the U.S. Open with Jordan sitting in his courtside guest box.

Playing in his record 60th consecutive Grand Slam tournament, and seeking to add to his mark of 17 major titles, Federer delighted his childhood idol with a back-to-the-net, between-the-legs shot during a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over 76th-ranked Marinko Matosevic of Australia.

The second-seeded Federer will face another Australian, big-serving Sam Groth, in the second round.

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