US Open 2016: Isner comes from two sets down to win; Cilic and Monfils ease through

Updated 30/08/2016 at 04:32 GMT

America's top-ranked player survived a major scare, while 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic made light work of his opening match.

John Isner of the United States serves to to Frances Tiafoe of the United States during his first round Men's Singles match on Day One of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood

Image credit: AFP

Isner comes through epic clash

Big-serving US star John Isner produced the first great escape of the 2016 US Open as he came from two sets down to beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe.

Tiafoe stunned the 20th seed as he clinched the first two sets and pushed Isner to a tie-break in the third.

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But Isner held firm, coming through to earn a 3-6 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2 7-6(3) - with Tiafoe's nerve failing him as he produced a double fault at a critical moment in the tie-break decider.

"It was an unbelievable time I had playing tennis today," said world number Tiafoe, choosing to look on the bright side after losing to America's top-ranked player.

Highlights: Isner comes from two sets down to beat Tiafoe

Former champion Cilic eases into second round of US Open

Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion and recent Cincinnati Masters winner, was forced to work hard in his opening match at Flushing Meadows before winning in straight sets.

The 6'6" Croatian, ranked ninth in the world, blitzed Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva with 12 aces as he won 6-4 7-5 6-1 against the world number 108.

But he didn't have it all his own way: Cilic came from a break down in the first set and was pushed hard in the second before easing through thereafter.

"It's my second home, I feel great here," said Cilic, who beat red-hot Andy Murray in the final in Cincinnati.

"My best memories come from here in 2014.

"Winning Cincinnati just shows me I am in good form but it's an extremely tough tournament, over two weeks.

"There are a lot of contenders for the title so I will take it step by step."

Next up for Cilic is Sergiy Stakhovsky, who beat Gastao Elias in a five-setter.

Marin Cilic of Croatia hits a return against Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil

Image credit: AFP

Gael Monfils enjoys smashing win

France's magnificently flamboyant Gael Monfils enjoyed a 6-4 6-2 7-6(5) win over Gilles Muller in his opening match.

And his tennis was literally smashing: world number 12 Monfils collided with a courtside clock during one rally, absolutely destroying it beyond recognition.

Gael Monfils absolutely destroys clock at US Open

An extraordinary moment from an extraordinary player - and a great win in a tough match, given that he'd drawn the world number 73..

Monfils should have an easier match up next: he faces either Czech world numer 226 Jan Satral or America's world number 406 Mackenzie McDonald.

Monfils has crowd on their feet with amazing winner

Klizan knocked out by Youzhny

Mikhail Youzhny claimed a decent scalp as he beat 28th seed Martin Klizan in his opening match.

Russian journeyman Youzhny, ranked 61st in the world, dominated throughout, losing just four games in a 6-2 6-1 6-1 victory.

Aug 30 (Gracenote) - Results from the U.S. Open Men's Singles Round 1 matches on Monday

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-1

5-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat Dustin Brown (Germany) 7-5 6-3 6-4

32-Benoit Paire (France) beat Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) 6-2 2-6 3-6 7-5 6-1

20-John Isner (U.S.) beat Frances Tiafoe (U.S.) 3-6 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2 7-6(3)

Vasek Pospisil (Canada) beat Jozef Kovalik (Slovakia) 6-1 6-3 6-3

Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) beat Facundo Bagnis (Argentina) 6-4 6-2 1-1 (Bagnis retired)

4-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) 6-1 6-4 6-2

10-Gael Monfils (France) beat Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 6-4 6-2 7-6(5)

Andreas Seppi (Italy) beat Stephane Robert (France) 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-3

Steve Darcis (Belgium) beat Jordan Thompson (Australia) 5-7 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4 7-5

Nicolas Almagro (Spain) beat Marton Fucsovics (Hungary) 6-1 6-4 7-6(7)

31-Albert Ramos (Spain) beat Julien Benneteau (France) 3-6 6-3 6-3 2-6 6-1

Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) beat Gastao Elias (Portugal) 6-1 3-6 2-6 6-3 7-6(4)

Ernesto Escobedo (U.S.) beat Lukas Lacko (Slovakia) 6-4 4-6 4-6 6-3 (Lacko retired)

Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia) beat Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) 6-4 3-6 6-1 7-6(6)

7-Marin Cilic (Croatia) beat Rogerio Dutra Silva (Brazil) 6-4 7-5 6-1

Guido Pella (Argentina) beat Bjorn Fratangelo (U.S.) 6-3 6-4 6-4

Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) beat 28-Martin Klizan (Slovakia) 6-2 6-1 6-1

Kyle Edmund (Britain) beat 13-Richard Gasquet (France) 6-2 6-2 6-3

15-Roberto Bautista (Spain) beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (Spain) 7-5 6-1 6-7(5) 7-6(3)

James Duckworth (Australia) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 4-6 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-3

26-Jack Sock (U.S.) beat Taylor Fritz (U.S.) 7-6(3) 7-5 3-6 1-6 6-4

Ryan Harrison (U.S.) beat Adrian Mannarino (France) 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3

24-Lucas Pouille (France) beat Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) 3-6 6-2 6-4 6-2

9-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Guido Andreozzi (Argentina) 6-3 6-4 6-4

Mischa Zverev (Germany) beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert (France) 6-4 7-6(6) 4-6 6-0

18-Pablo Cuevas (Uruguay) beat Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-3 6-2 0-6 5-7 6-3

Jan Satral (Czech Republic) beat Mackenzie McDonald (U.S.) 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2

Federico Delbonis (Argentina) beat Brian Baker (U.S.) 3-6 6-7(6) 6-4 6-2 6-2

23-Kevin Anderson (South Africa) beat Yoshihito Nishioka (Japan) 6-3 7-5 6-4

Marco Chiudinelli (Switzerland) beat Guilherme Clezar (Brazil) 2-6 7-6(6) 6-2 6-4

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