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Photo : Mauricio Paiz|NEW YORK

Back in action for the first time since being crowned champion at Rogers Cup in Toronto, Bianca Andreescu, who was taking part in the main draw at the US Open for the first time in her career, got the better of American wild card Katie Volynets by a score of 6-2, 6-4.

Andreescu had some difficulties on serve in the opening set and survived several long games against her 17-year-old opponent. Despite her valiant efforts, Volynets was unable to overpower the Canadian, dropping serve on three occasions to allow Andreescu to take the set, which was sealed with a blazing forehand winner.

The players battled closely in the second set until Andreescu earned the first break point of the set and capitalized on a double fault from the opponent to take the lead. Using her superior court craft and power from the baseline, Andreescu ultimately broke through the Volynets defence, securing her first US Open victory.

Vasek Pospisil upsets Karen Khachanov

For his part, Vasek Pospisil, world no. 216, caused the upset by eliminating Karen Khachanov, no. 9 in the rankings and the recent semi-finalist at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

The Canadian began the match a little nervous, unable to win a single point on his opponent’s serve and dropped the opening set 6-4.

Pospisil then got his bearings, stepped up his game and brought his total to 25 winners. He was then able to capitalize on his only break point opportunity up to that point, getting the break at love against the world no. 9, which eventually allowed him to take the second set 7-5. History would repeat itself in the third with the Canadian taking it once again by a score of 7-5, breaking his rival at the very end of the set.

Momentum shifted again in the fourth, as Khachanov got his chance at 3-3 to break the Canadian and thus forced a decider.

It was a determined Pospisil who battled for every point in the fifth set. After taking the lead at 3-2 thanks to an impressive forehand down the line, he never looked back. For his part, Khachanov lost his concentration. Pospisil moves into the second round thanks to a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 4-6, 6- victory, needing 3 hours and 50 minutes to do so. His next opponent will be American Tennys Sandgren.

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