Katie Boulter comes through testing conditions to reach second round of US Open

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

British No 1 Katie Boulter showcased her fighting spirit to book her place in the second round of the US Open.

Boulter, seeded 31st in the final grand slam of the year, joined compatriot Harriet Dart in the next stage after a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

The win was far more testing than the scoreline suggests as she endured a battle in sweltering New York conditions.

She started brightly, winning the opening two games before the Belarusian started causing problems with a strong forehand weapon. Sasnovich was able to turn the first set around, breaking at 5-5 to assume control.

But Boulter dug deep and again started the second set well, cruising into a 3-0 lead that allowed her to send it to a decider.

The contest was not over, though, as the Briton had to fend off four break points in the opening game. However, she took control of her destiny with a run of five successive games to make it through to the second round – and a match against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Later, the British men’s No.1 Jack Draper also reached the second round with a dominant 6-3, 6-0, 4-0 victory over Zhang Zhizhen, who was forced to retire hurt in the third set.

The 27-year-old Zhang was not at his best and clearly struggling with a leg injury throughout but Draper was a class above and will return to court on Thursday.