Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Rinky Hijikata — R128 — US Open

Serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth, the third seed was broken back to 5-5, hours of work suddenly unresolved. Two games later Auger-Aliassime answered, breaking for 6-5 behind a serve that had produced 17 aces to Hijikata's five, five of them in the closing set against none from the other end. It was not a clean win. The Canadian sprayed 11 double faults and 50 unforced errors, 18 more than his opponent made, and took it anyway on first-strike volume: 48 winners to 25, 18 of 24 net points, and six breaks from 13 chances to Hijikata's four. The 85th-ranked Hijikata, facing him for the first time on record, saved two match points before the end; Auger-Aliassime moves into the second round having spent 4 hours and 7 minutes to get out of the first.