Raonic Fires Into US Open Second Round

Milos Raonic scored a confident opening-round win at the US Open on Monday, downing Germany’s Dustin Brown 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 46 minutes. The No. 5 seed will face American qualifier Ryan Harrison in the second round.

Raonic, who started the match on his serve, never trailed in the match. The Canadian diffused Brown’s unpredictable shotmaking and broke serve five times in the pair’s first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting. Using his power judiciously, Raonic finished with 41 winners to Brown’s 27 while making nine fewer unforced errors (19 to 28).

The quick first-round victory will help Raonic maintain his energy level as he aims to reach the second week at the US Open for the fourth time in five years. The 2016 Wimbledon finalist has never been past the fourth round in Flushing Meadows but has reached the fourth round or better at all three Grand Slams this year.

Harrison upended Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-3. The 24 year old was punishing on return games, breaking Mannarino’s serve seven time in the two hour, 18-minute encounter. He beat Raonic in the pair’s first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting in Indian Wells five years ago. Raonic beat Harrison en route to his second San Jose title the following year.