Flavio Cobolli survives as Taylor Fritz advances

Flavio Cobolli and Taylor Fritz have both reached the US Open second round, but their opening days could hardly have been more different. Sixth-ranked Cobolli was pushed to the limit, while the 10th-ranked Fritz completed his assignment in routine fashion.

Cobolli overturned a two-set deficit against Argentina’s Francisco Comesana, ranked 119th, to win 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 after four hours and 13 minutes. The match contained 12 breaks of serve. The Italian, a finalist at the last French Open, levelled the contest before breaking at 4-4 in the deciding set. He then saved two break points in the final game before converting his first match point.

Fritz needed only one hour and 41 minutes to defeat fellow American Darwin Blanch, a wild card ranked 245th, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The Californian struck 14 aces and saved both break points he faced, while Blanch committed nine double faults. Fritz broke once in the opening set, twice in the second and again at the start of the third to begin his 11th US Open with a straight-sets victory. Cobolli will face a qualifier, either Basavareddy or Schoolkate, while Fritz awaits Bellucci or Piros.