Hijikata rallies past Monfils in three sets in Cincinnati

Rinky Hijikata recovered from a one-sided opening set to beat Gael Monfils 2-6 7-6 6-3 in the Cincinnati first round. Monfils began by dictating with his delivery, striking 16 aces and winning 80.7 percent of the points behind his first serve, but he landed only 46.3 percent of those first balls and paid for it as the match wore on. Whenever the rally started from the Frenchman's second serve, he won just 40.9 percent of the points, and seven double faults added to the leaks. Hijikata's own second serve held up at 62.2 percent, enough to turn the tiebreak and then the decider his way.