Querrey Holds Off Challenge From Wild Card Klahn

No. 20 seed Sam Querrey used 19 aces to overcome a composed, gutsy performance from fellow American Bradley Klahn in four sets, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Querrey, one of the hottest players on tour in ATP events in 2010, has had his struggles this year in Grand Slams, falling in the first round at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. He managed to reach the round of 16 at Wimbledon, but considering his lack of success in non-majors, a loss against Klahn would have put a glaring question mark on his ability to play on the big stage.

In contrast to his Grand Slam results, Querrey has won four ATP Tour titles this year, a total that trails only Rafael Nadal. He is also the only player to have won titles on three different surfaces, taking events hard courts, clay and grass.

Klahn, ranked No. 596 in the world, was playing in not only his first Grand Slam event, but the first ATP Tour main draw match of his career.

Querrey took the first set comfortably, breaking Klahn twice in the set, including the opening game, in which Klahn looked a bit tentative -- perhaps feeling nervous in his first main tour encounter.

Klahn, a Junior at Stanford University, picked up his game dramatically in the second set, ironically after being forced to take an injury timeout. With both players near the net, Klahn got hit in the groin by a Querrey backhand. After lying down on the court and calling for a trainer -- with the delicate nature of the injury causing more than a few chuckles from the crowd -- Klahn's game remarkably picked up.

Klahn returned by saving two break points on his serve, before breaking Querrey in the next game. He held his service games to stay ahead and take the second set, 6-4, displaying an impressive big lefty serve and forehand.

The match was dead even in the third with Klahn serving at 5-6, but facing a set point at 30-40, Klahn missed a backhand wide, allowing Querrey the break and the set. To make matters worse, Klahn suffered cramping in his hand in the exchange.

The 20-year-old showed his gutsy nature by playing through the cramps in the fourth, getting rubdowns from his trainer during changeovers. However, cramps and Querrey's big serve and superior ground strokes proved too much to overcome.

Klahn, who two years ago was ranked No. 1 in the USTA Boys' 18's division, was given a wildcard into the draw at the US Open for winning the NCAA Singles Title in May. Prior to the Open, his best pro result was a quarterfinal finish at a challenger event in August in Binghampton, New York.

Querrey, who has won two hard court events this year, has the game and experience to further his previous best showing in New York, a quarterfinal appearance in 2007. However, he lost in the second round of the three hard court events he played leading up to the Open. He will take on Marcel Granollders of Spain in the second round.