DALLAS (AP) — Max Purcell won a tiebreaker in the deciding set after letting two match points get away, beating Mitchell Krueger 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3) in the first round of the Dallas Open on Monday night.
The sixth-seeded Australian won six consecutive points in the tiebreaker after falling behind 1-0, closing out the match with a winner on a forehand after struggling with that stroke throughout the match.
Taro Daniel of Japan won the other opening-round match, 4-6, 6-4, 5-0, over Constant Lestienne when the Frenchman retired with an arm injury.
Purcell had two match points with a 5-4 lead in the final set when Krueger started a run of nine consecutive points that gave the American a chance to win the match by breaking Purcell's serve.
Purcell recovered and forced the tiebreaker by winning four consecutive points. Krueger saved two more match points before losing the tiebreaker in a deciding set for the fifth consecutive time.