NEW YORK – Two-time French Open runner-up Robin Soderling reached the second round of the U.S. Open by holding off a strong challenge from a qualifier who's 214th in the rankings.
The No. 5-seeded Swede hurt himself with 13 double-faults while edging Andreas Haider-Maurer of Austria 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 5-7, 6-4 Monday. Haider-Maurer hit 34 aces — 26 more than Soderling.
The 23-year-old Haider-Maurer was making his Grand Slam debut and facing a top-10 opponent for the first time. Soderling appeared headed to an easy victory, taking the opening two sets and then holding four match points in the third.
But Haider-Maurer charged back, thanks mainly to his big serves, which reached up to 134 mph.
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