Defending US Open champion Marin Cilic "happy" with serve in first round

Defending US Open champion Marin Cilic has claimed that he is content with the way that he has been serving at Flushing Meadows.

The 26-year-old opened the defence of his crown with a 6-3 7-6(3) 7-6(3) victory over Guido Pella on Monday.

"I think Guido played really, really good," The Guardian quotes Cilic as saying. "He was causing me trouble with his serve. [It was] a bit gusty so it was not easy to put my returns in but I managed somehow and I was pretty happy with my serve."

Cilic hit 13 aces and seven service winners in the match.