Experience key to Moya bid
The third seed eased into second round on Monday and said he believes experience, rather than form, will be the key to winning.
Third seed Carlos Moya eased into the second round of the US Open on Monday and then said he believes experience, rather than form alone, will be the key to winning the title.
Moya, who reached the semi-finals in 1998, overcame a slow start and an error-strewn performance to beat American wildcard Brian Baker 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-2.
"At the beginning, I played really bad," said Moya, after making 54 unforced errors. "The key was when I won the second set. After that I started to play much better.
"I'm not happy with the way I played but still, a win is a win."
Former French Open champion Moya has won three titles in 2004, including the Masters event in Rome, and is one of the favourites to lift the title.
"Most of the matches I have been winning lately, it is because I have had a good run and I'm very confident, not because I played great tennis," the Spaniard said.
"But I know that if I am able to win a few more matches here, at least I know what it takes to win a grand slam.
"I know what it takes to play well here, so that's something positive I have."
Moya now meets another American wildcard, Amer Delic, in the second round.
Baker surprised Moya in the early stages, breaking the Spaniard twice in the first set before taking it on a tiebreak.
The Spaniard hit back to take the second set but appeared to be facing a tough match before Baker suffered leg cramps at the start of the third set.
Baker played on but Moya took full advantage, sealing victory in just over three hours.
"For sure I'm going to play better the next match," Moya said. "I have experience in these kind of matches and I know I am going to get better.
"It takes a while for me to get used to the speed of the court, the balls, everything to get into the tournament."
