Nicolas Almagro defeats Philipp Petzschner in five

Nicolas Almagro overcame the challenge of Philipp Petzschner at the US Open in a match that went the distance this evening.

The match started well for Spain's Almagro, who broke Petzschner's serve at the first time of asking to open up a 2-0 lead.

Petzschner responded by holding his remaining service games, but it wasn't enough to stop Almagro from taking the opening set 6-3.

However, the German's response to falling behind was positive. Both players were broken twice during the second set, which left the score at five games apiece. Petzschner then held for a 6-5 lead, before a poor service game from Almagro handed his opponent the set.

It looked as though the third set was heading for a tie-break with the scores level at 5-5. Petzschner ensured that it wouldn't go that far though, as he repeated his feat from the second set to win through 7-5.

Almagro battled back in the fourth, running out a 6-4 victor to force a deciding set.

The same scoreline in the fifth set booked his place in round three at Flushing Meadows, where he will face either Jack Sock or Flavio Cipolla.