ATP US Open: Dominic Thiem advances. Felix Auger-Aliassime sets Andy Murray clash

Following an early exit in Cincinnati and one of his toughest defeats ever, the 2nd seed Dominic Thiem had to stay on the court for only two hours in the first round of the US Open. The Austrian claimed the opening two sets against Jaume Munar 7-6, 6-3 in an hour and 55 minutes before the Spaniard decided to retire, sending one of the favorites into the second round. They shared five breaks in the opening two sets and Thiem grabbed three of those, not playing at his best in the first set but still managing to bring it home. He opened a 5-3 gap, serving for the set in game ten when Munar broke back to extend the drama. Dominic had a 5-2 and 6-4 advantage in the tie break, wasting two set points and finally clinching the final two points at 6-6 to seal the opener. They traded breaks early in the second set and Thiem rattled off the last three games from 3-3, securing the set and moving through as Munar had to retire before the third.

The 15th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime had to stay on the court for three hours and 51 minutes despite never losing serve against Thiago Monteiro, beating the Brazilian 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6. With 59 winners and 62 unforced errors, Felix had the upper hand on the court but barely won in four sets, with Monteiro wasting set points in the fourth set tie break. Thiago had only two break opportunities, wasting both and delivering his best serving performance to fend off seven out of eight break chances, suffering one break in the opener and staying in touch ever since. Playing on a high level, Auger-Aliassime grabbed that break in the fourth game, clinching the first set with a comfortable hold at 5-3. The returners claimed only ten points in 12 service games of set number two, reaching a tie break where Thiago saved a set point to steal it 9-7.

Dominic Thiem and Felix Auger-Aliassime are through to the second round. 

There were no break opportunities in set number three either, as Felix saved a set point at 5-6 to grab the last three points and move two sets to one in front. In set number four, the Brazilian repelled five break chances in games one and 11, squandering a set point at 5-4 and two more in the tie break at 6-4. With no room for errors, Auger-Aliassime produced some strong hitting to claim the last four points, cross the finish line and avoid a decider, already spending too much time on the court. Daniel Evans dominated the opening two sets against Thiago Seyboth Wild, beating the young Brazilian 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 in two hours and 16 minutes. Daniel fended off both break points he had to play against, standing strong on the return to earn five breaks in the opening two sets before the youngster recovered his strokes in set number three.

He reached a tie break that the Briton claimed 7-5 to seal the deal in straight sets and move into the second round. The 30th seed Casper Ruud performed a great escape against Mackenzie McDonald, beating the American 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in three hours and 42 minutes. The opening set saw 15 break chances, with both rivals settling into a better rhythm behind the initial shot after that. Trailing 4-3 in set number three, Ruud produced two crucial breaks in games eight and ten, stealing the set and gaining momentum that carried him towards home, playing better and better as the encounter progressed to advance into the second round for the first time in New York. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2YWeqGK