Svrcina outlasts Royer in five sets at US Open first round

Dalibor Svrcina came within two sets of a routine win and then had to survive a five-set fight, beating Valentin Royer 6-4 6-3 5-7 5-7 6-2 in the US Open first round. The Czech's serve was erratic in the extreme — just 53.8% of first deliveries landed and he coughed up 15 double faults — but when it did land he was close to untouchable, winning 75.3% of those points against Royer's 66.3%. The Frenchman's second ball was the difference, yielding only 39.4% of points to Svrcina's 53.0%. Eleven aces were not enough for Royer, and Svrcina moved into the second round.