US teenager Sam Querrey fought back after losing a tie-breaker to post a 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 first-round win over Serb Janko Tipsarevic on Monday at the Indianapolis Open.
The 18-year-old is billed as the next hope for the American game but struggled at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
With all 16 seeds given byes as the summer-long US Open Series begins in this Midwestern city, Querrey drew attention after winning two lower-level Challenger titles in the past month.
PHOTO: AFP
James Blake, the only US player now ranked in the top 10, and No 11 Andy Roddick head the seedings. Chile's Fernando Gonzalez is the third seed and defending champion Robby Ginepri, of the US, is fourth.
Querrey, who is ranked 200th in the world, won his first set against Tipsarevic, the number 126, and held a 4-2 lead in the tie-breaker before his nerve failed.
But the teenager showed his determination by lifting victory thanks to a break in the opening game of the third set.
"After I was up in the breaker and let it slip, I told myself to stay positive," said the wild card entry, now 3-5 in ATP matches in this debut season.
"I told myself to get up a break in the third, and I was able to do just that," he said. "I'm getting wild cards and I hope to make the most of them. I'm hoping to win a match or two. I'm doing what I can to help American tennis."
The tournament features unseeded Australian Mark Philippoussis, who won his first title in nearly three years at Newport, Rhode Island, on Sunday over Justin Gimelstob.
Two-time former Grand Slam finalist Philippoussis, who cut his ranking almost in half to 125th with his victory, opens against German Benjamin Becker in the first round.
The US' Jeff Morrison beat Mexico's Santiago Gonzalez 6-2, 6-2 to join Querrey in the second round while Thai Danai Udomchoke beat Czech Tomas Cakl 6-2, 6-2.
Thai Paradorn Srichaphan is seeded eighth, with an opening match against the winner from Australian qualifier Wayne Arthurs or Harel Levy.
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