In the first round at the US Open, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy defeated 18-year-old Michael Mmoh 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to progress to the second round where he will face 22nd seed Grigor Dimitrov.
Chardy gets important break; takes first set over Mmoh
The match started with two comfortable holds of serve. In just the third game, the teenager making his Grand Slam debut faced double break points. The American did well to save both but the experienced pro Chardy kept coming back at the teen. The pressure was getting to Mmoh and the gifted the Frenchman his first break point with a double-fault and though he managed to save the point, Chardy hit a forehand down the line to bring up a fourth break point of the match. This time, the 29-year-old broke and went 3-1 up. The Frenchman consolidated his love by holding serve to love to go 4-1 up.
The American never gave up and continued to probe and cause Chardy problems. In the seventh game, Mmoh hit a shot which landed at the feet of Chardy who then hit an unforced error which gave Mmoh the chance to break back. Which he did after Chardy's shot hit the top of the net and bounced over the baseline. The teen then impressively held his serve to love hitting an ace to get back on level terms. Despite going on to level, the Frenchman came back at Mmoh once more and gained three set points. The 18-year-old managed to save the first of them before hitting a forehand return long to give Chardy the set, 6-4.
Chardy breaks Mmoh for a two-set lead
After getting broken in the first set, Mmoh started the second set confidently. In the opening game, the world number 384 gained a break point following a missed forehand crosscourt from Chardy. The Frenchman then served his way out of trouble to bring the game to deuce. However, the American would bring up a second break point.
Again Jeremy Chardy stopped Mmoh from taking the early advantage and hit a forehand down the line to bring the game to deuce. The Frenchman would have four more chances to go ahead but his serve let him down almost everytime before eventually going on to hold serve after almost ten minutes. The following game would see Chardy get a break point of his own.
Although he saved the point, Chardy came back at him and forced another break point with a forehand winner. The teen hit an error which gave the first break of the set to Chardy. The world number 55 hit an ace and held his serve to love to go 3-0 up in the second. Mmoh never settled during the set and always looked in trouble but continued to fight on and give his all.
In the seventh game, Mmoh brought up a break point chance at 30-40, however, Chardy quickly erased the point and held serve. Despite not breaking, he would get the chance to a couple of games later. Whilst serving for the set, Chardy had two set points saved before Mmoh eventually broke back for 4-5. Chardy gained and squandered two set points on the Mmoh serve before going on to seal the set, 6-4.
Mmoh runs out of steam, Chardy runs away with set
The third set proved too much for the 18-year-old Michael Mmoh as Chardy turned it up and blew the youngster away. The Frenchman got the set underway by holding his own serve. In the following game, Chardy fired a forehand down the line to bring up a break point opportunity. It was the same shot that saw him break and go 2-0 up in the third.
The world number 55 continued to use his experience and knowledge in the third set as he gained another break point. The Frenchman broke for a 4-0 lead and the match was all but over. Chardy held his serve to love for a 5-0 lead over Michael Mmoh in his first ever Grand Slam appearance. In the next game, the American held serve for the first time in the set to avoid the bagel. Jeremy Chardy fired an ace to secure the third set, 6-1, and the match.