Milos Raonic has marched into the third round of the US Open with a 7-6 5-7 6-4 7-6 victory over Peter Gojowczyk in New York.
It was an exhibition of impressive serving in the first set as neither player was able to force a break, with Raonic only pulling ahead thanks to two crucial points late in the tie-break to earn a 7-3 success.
Raonic was put under pressure early in the second set as Gojowczyk made a breakthrough, but the Canadian was able to hit back with a break of serve of his own.
The set was delicately poised at 6-5 to Gojowczyk, and the German converted the lead with a break in the 12th game to level the scores.
Raonic found it difficult to pull away from his opponent throughout the contest, but a solitary break of serve in the third was enough to see the fifth seed regain the advantage.
A lifeline was offered to Gojowczyk when he earned a 2-0 lead at the start of the fourth set, with the neutral crowd anticipating a long evening.
However, Raonic once again immediately broke back, before clinching a place in the next round with a 7-3 triumph in the tie-break.
Callum Mulvihill
