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You are in: Special Events: 2001: US Open tennis |
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Tuesday, 28 August, 2001, 18:20 GMT 19:20 UK
Rusedski clears first hurdle
Rusedski did not face a break point during the match
Greg Rusedski began his 2001 US Open campaign with victory over Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui in four sets at Flushing Meadows.
The British number two came through a potentially tricky match 6-7 7-5 6-4 6-3. His win in just under three hours came on the same Grandstand court which had been the stage for Tim Henman's five-set struggle on on the opening day of the tournament. It was a solid display from Rusedski who dropped the first set on a tiebreak but kept his composure to take the next three.
And while he wasted several chances to stamp his authority on the match against an erratic opponent, Rusedski was solid on his own serve and did not face a break point in the entire match. Rusedski now goes on to play Jonas Bjorkman in the second round. The last time he faced the 29-year-old Swede was when he beat him in the semi-final of the 1997 US Open. The first set was dominated by serve and went to the tiebreak. Rusedski achieved the first mini-break but El Aynaoui then won two points against serve to pinch the set. But the 27-year-old Briton did not panic and although he made little impact on his opponent's serve, he was never threatened on his own. Pressure
As the second set reached its climax, it was the 29-year-old Moroccan who cracked, giving Rusedski three set points in the tenth game. Rusedski could not convert them but made no mistake in El Aynaoui's next service game to level at one set each. It was a similar story in the third set with Rusedski finally taking his chance at the end of the set with a flashing backhand down the line. By now, Rusedski's confidence was high while El Aynaoui wore the air of a defeated man. One break in the fourth game of the set was enough to secure victory for the 30th seed. |
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28 Aug 01 | US Open tennis
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