Paradorn outlasts Acasuso in marathon five-setter
Paradorn Srichaphan
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New York - Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan won the battle of the big servers Monday, surviving a five-set marathon with Argentina's Jose Acasuso to win 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in the first round of the US Open.
Paradorn fired 23 aces and hammered 61 winners in the three hour, 17 minute match which started late after heavy rain pushed back the start times on Monday's opening day.
The Thai, who is unseeded here, advances to the second round where he will face Jiri Novka of the Czech Republic who defeated France's Arnaud Clement 7-5, 6-2, 7-5.
The 27-year-old Paradorn had his hands full with the 24th seeded Acasuso but managed to rally in the fifth set after dropping a tiebreaker in the fourth.
Argentina's Acasuso fired 29 aces but had six double faults and 51 unforced errors.
Paradorn, whose best result in New York was reaching the round of 16 in 2003, has had mixed hardcourt results this year. He reached the semi-finals in Indian Wells but went through one stretch where he lost four consecutive first round matches.
Unlike many of the others in the 128-player men's field whose seasons are winding down, Paradorn is going into the most important part of his campaign.
The native of Bangkok is hoping that a strong showing at Flushing Meadows will get him primed for the Asian portion of the 2006 ATP season.
Agence France Presse
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