Dudi Sela through to second round of doubles at US Open

Dudi Sela is through to the second round of the men’s doubles in New York after coming from a set down to claim a thrilling win.

Teaming up with Frenchman Stephane Robert, the pair took on German Andre Begemann and India’s Leander Paes.

Comprehensively beaten 6-2 in the first set in just over 20 minutes, the Israeli-French duo were broken early in the second set, and found themselves 3-1 down.

With no further break of serve, Begemann was then left to serve out the match, but Robert and Sela claimed their first break of the match to level the set at 5-5. Sela then held his serve, meaning Paes needed to hold his to take the set to a tie-break, but he was broken, meaning the match went to a third and deciding set.

Robert, serving first was broken, though they did have a chance to break Paes and make it 2-2, only to spurn three break points, as they instead once again found themselves 3-1 down. They did though find themselves with another three break points in Paes’ next service game – and this time took the first one as they drew back level at 4-4.

Sela held his serve to edge them ahead at 5-4, meaning Begermann was left to serve to keep him and Paes in the match. However, he couldn’t as Sela and Robert converted their second match point to complete an unlikely victory.

They next face the 12th seeds, Pole Lukasz Kubot and Austrian Alexander Peya.

Jonathan Erlich’s bid to reach the third round ended later on Friday after he and Mexican Santiago Gonzalez lost in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4 to the the third seeds, American brothers, Bob and Mike Bryan.

In the first round of junior girls’ qualifying, Israeli Shelly Krolitzky, the 13th seed, beat Ecuadorian Rafaella Baquerizo 6-4, 6-0. She next takes on American Vanessa Ong for a place in the first round of the competition.