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In one of the most interesting matches of the day, Frances Tiafoe has defeated his compatriot Ryan Harrison 3-6 7-6 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes to make the winning start, beating Ryan for the first time in two matches. Two years ago in Memphis it was Ryan who emerged as a winner and he was 2-0 up in the deciding set today as well before Frances started to play better to dominate in the rest of the match, taking the equal number of points as his opponent and prevailing with a late break in game nine.
We saw two breaks of serve on each side (Ryan had five break points while Frances created nine) and it was the older Amercian who saved all four break points he faced in the opening set, earning the break in game eight which was enough for a 6-3.
Harrison was the better player in set number two, losing just six points in six service games and creating two break points in game three that could seal the deal for him. Tiafoe fends them off to stay in contention and he made quite a turnaround in the tie break, coming from a 3-5 down to win four straight points and steal the set, setting up a decider.
There, Harrison broke in the second game to move 2-0 up but his lead was short-lived, losing serve in the following game and the momentum with it. Frances was the dominant figure in his service games by the end of the match, losing four points in the final four games and earning a break after a lucky net cord in game nine, serving for the win in the following game.
Tiafoe held at love to sealed the deal and book his place in the second round, happy with the way he turned the match into his favor after being two points away from the defeat. First round results: