Stanislas Wawrinka has passed his first test at the US Open by beating Jiri Vesely in straight sets on the opening day of the final Grand Slam of the year.
The Australian Open champion took just 26 minutes to take the first, but was pushed all the way in sets two and three by his world number 75 opponent.
Wawrinka broke at the first attempt and lost just four points on his own serve on his way to winning the first set, but Vesely did not roll over as easily from then on as he grew into the contest.
He saved four break points in the second game of the middle set and then three more in the eighth game, before surprising the Swiss by breaking him to love to move to within one game of levelling the match.
However, Wawrinka replied instantly and showed more of his determined nature when he saved two break points in the following game to force a tie-break, which he eventually won by an 8-6 scoreline.
Breaks were exchanged early in a third set which also went the distance, although the brief nature of some of the service games meant that it did not run for over an hour as the second set did.
Nevertheless, it was still evenly contested and had to be settled again by a tie-break. Four early strikes from Wawrinka severely deflated Vesely and the third seed went on to record a 6-2 7(8)-6(6) 7-6(3) win.
Joe Fish
