'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Indian tennis player N Sriram Balaji and his Argentine partner Guido Andreozzi put on a gutsy performance to move forward at the US Open. The duo faced a tough challenge from New Zealand’s Marcus Daniell and Mexico’s Miguel Reyes-Varela but emerged victorious after a marathon 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(10) battle that stretched over two and a half hours.
The first set was a nail-biter, with both pairs refusing to give an inch. Balaji and Andreozzi managed to hold their nerve when Daniell and Reyes-Varela threatened to break in the sixth game, levelling the score at 3-3. Just when it seemed like the set was headed for a tie-break, Daniell and Reyes-Varela broke through in the 12th game to take the set 7-5.
But N Sriram Balaji and Andreozzi weren’t about to back down. They came out strong in the second set, quickly breaking their opponents’ serve twice in the first three games to take a 3-0 lead. With their momentum growing, they dominated the rest of the set, taking it 6-1 to force a decider.
Trending
The final set was an intense battle, with both teams fighting tooth and nail. Balaji and Andreozzi managed to break serve in the ninth game, setting themselves up to serve for the match. However, Daniell and Reyes-Varela immediately broke back and pushed the match into a tense tie-break.
Both pairs traded points in a tense back-and-forth struggle. Balaji and Andreozzi initially found themselves down 1-4 but rallied back to level the score.
As the tie-break progressed, the scoreboard read 10-10 at one point. In the end, it was Balaji and Andreozzi who held their nerve, clinching the tie-break 12-10 to seal a hard-fought victory.
N Sriram Balaji and Guido Andreozzi to face 8th-seeded Michael Venus and Neal Skupski
With this win under their belts, N Sriram Balaji and Andreozzi now face a tougher challenge in the second round. They’ll be up against the eighth-seeded pair of Neal Skupski from Great Britain and Michael Venus from New Zealand.
Skupski and Venus are a well-established team on the tour. They breezed through their opening match, defeating the French pair of Hugo Gaston and Gregoire Jacq in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
This upcoming match will be a big test for Balaji and Andreozzi. Skupski and Venus are known for their strong serves and sharp net play, making them a formidable duo. For Balaji and Andreozzi, staying composed and taking their chances will be crucial if they hope to continue their run at the US Open.
