TNT Sports
US Open 2017: Marin Cilic survives scare to beat Tennys Sandgren, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga eases through
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Published 28/08/2017 at 21:47 GMT+1
Former US Open champion Marin Cilic completed a 6-4 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over unseeded American Tennys Sandgren in the US Open first round.
Eurosport
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The 2014 US Open champion was forced to a fourth set as he hit 55 winners and threw in 57 unforced errors in a patchy performance over two hours and 47 minutes on Arthur Ashe.
"I feel just a little bit rusty," fifth seed Cilic said in an on-court interview after the match.
"I need a few matches to get in the rhythm. I was hitting some good shots and then making some unforced errors."
Cilic ended with 57 unforced errors, many coming from his wobbly forehand, compared to 55 winners.
Sandgren, playing in just his second main draw of a grand slam, was composed throughout the match but appeared to tire as the match wore on.
The 26-year-old American was ultimately unable to overcome the early deficit and Cilic's powerful serve and punishing groundstrokes.
"Tennys was fighting quite hard even after I was up two sets to love. The fourth set was a battle, especially the game at 4-3."
Sandgren sent a shot wide to hand Cilic a break and end the over 10-minute game.
Cilic cracked his 11th ace to win the match in the next game and punch his ticket to the second round.
Next up for Cilic in the second round is German Florian Mayer, a 7-5 0-6 6-3 6-4 winner over Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva.
Eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga enjoyed a more straightforward afternoon at Flushing Meadows in his 6-3 6-3 6-4 win over Marius Copil of Romania.
Wimbledon quarter-finalist Gilles Muller fired 27 aces on his way to a 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 first-round victory over Australian Bernard Tomic.
American Sam Querrey booked a place in the second round with a 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory over France's Gilles Simon.
Querrey, who reached his first grand slam semi-final at Wimbledon earlier this year, registered 31 winners and claimed 20 off 27 points at the net on his way to victory.
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US Open men's first round results
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