FLUSHING, N.Y.? Despite a valiant comeback effort, former University of Kentucky men?s tennis standout Jesse Witten fell in five-sets to the No. 81 ranked American Paul Goldstein in the first round of the United States Open early Thursday morning.
Goldstein, an eight-time U.S. Open participant, defeated Witten, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 3-6, 6-1 on Court 4 in Queens, N.Y. The match began around 9 p.m. EST and lasted a little more than three hours. Goldstein prevailed a few minutes after midnight and was the last match of Day 3 of competition to finish.
Witten trailed early, but used a dominating serving performance to force the match into a fourth set and then into a fifth set. The match saw 32 deuces and two games needing more than 19 points. Eight times in the match Witten served four unanswered points.
The former Wildcat charged into the main draw of competition after winning three matches in the qualifying tournament held last week.
Below is a detailed description of the match.
SET ONE
In the first game of play Goldstein began with the serve and saw Witten take an early 30-0 lead. Goldstein responded with three consecutive points to take a 40-30 advantage, but Witten countered to force deuce. The duo played through two deuces before Witten won the first set point.
Witten?s serve proved too much to handle in the second game, as he rattled off four unanswered points to easily win the second game, taking a 2-0 lead in the first set. Goldstein countered on his serve, beating Witten with four unanswered points of his own inching closer at 2-1.
The former Wildcat jumped out to another early 30-0 lead before Goldstein finally matched a point, the score now 30-15. Witten ended the game with two-consecutive points taking a 3-1 game advantage.
Goldstein won the fifth game after the pair dueled through two deuces. Witten twice forced a deuce match before surrendering the point, but he still held a 3-2 lead.
In a hotly contested sixth game, Witten served 30 points and the duo fought through 12 deuces before Goldstein notched the score at three-all. Witten held the advantage seven times before Goldstein rattled off three-consecutive points to take the game.
Goldstein took his first lead of the set after a less dramatic seventh game. Witten had an early 30-0 lead before Goldstein responded with three points taking a 4-3 advantage.
The eight-time U.S. Open participant earned a 5-3 lead after the eighth game. Witten held the serve but could not find an answer for Goldstein?s returns as he smacked four unanswered points to win the game.
Goldstein won the set 6-3 after an early 30-0 lead. Witten managed to inch closer at 30-15, but Goldstein responded with two points to take the set.
SET TWO
In the first game of the second set, Witten began with the serve and twice forced Goldstein to fight back to knot the score. Goldstein eventually prevailed to go up by one.
Despite Goldstein taking an early 30-0 advantage and winning the last six games, Witten used a comeback effort of his own to take the second game tying the score at one.
Witten then served four unanswered points to earn his second-consecutive win, taking the lead 2-1.
The competitors matched their earlier vigor and needed two tiebreakers in the fourth game before Goldstein evened the score at two.
Witten?s response to dropping the closely contested fourth game, was serving another four consecutive points to move ahead, 3-2, in the fifth game.
Goldstein equaled the score at three games a piece in the sixth game. Witten gained the first point and then losing the next three. He moved the score to 40-30 before dropping the game.
The former Wildcat could not answer in the seventh game, falling to 4-3. Goldstein served his second consecutive victory taking a 5-3 advantage.
Refusing to go down without a fight, Witten using his serve as his gem endured a seven-time deuce and 20 point-match. He finally prevailed after escaping a Goldstein advantage by rattling off three-consecutive points to bring the set score to 5-4.
The battle continued into the tenth game, as the score was knotted three times. With the set point on the line, the eight-time veteran earned the victory out of deuce play and took the set 6-4.
SET THREE
In game one Witten held the serve, but Goldstein used three unanswered points to move ahead 1-0.
Witten responded with a win of his own in the second game, matching Goldstein at one game a piece.
The third game saw Witten serving four unanswered points, the fourth time in the match, to take the 2-1 advantage.
Goldstein responded to even the score at two. Witten held an early 30-0 advantage and then saw Goldstein force deuce and he quickly took the advantage and then the game.
With the serve back in his court, Witten surrendered only one point and went on to take the game grabbing the lead by one once again, 3-2.
After game six Witten held a two-game advantage, 4-2 as he returned Goldstein?s serve and easily took the game.
Witten served his way to a third-consecutive win earning a 5-3 lead after game seven.
Earning his first set victory of the match forcing the game into a fourth set, Witten edged Goldstein in the eighth game after Goldstein brought the game to 40-30.
SET FOUR
For the fifth time in the match, Witten served four unanswered points to take the early 1-0 lead in the fourth set. Goldstein fired back with his first win in six games to even the score at one.
Witten?s serve proved to be the difference maker yet again, as he rattled off four consecutive points to take a 2-1 advantage.
After fighting through two deuce points, Witten emerged on top taking a 3-1 lead.
For the seventh time in the match and the third time in the fourth set, Witten used four unanswered points with his serve to take a commanding 4-1 advantage.
Goldstein jumped out to an early 40-0 lead, but saw Witten claw his way back into the match forcing deuce. Goldstein prevailed to move the score to 4-2.
After surrendering the first point of the game, Witten served four consecutive points to grab a 5-2 lead.
With the set game on the line, Goldstein earned the victory and the score moved to 5-3.
Attempting to force the match into a fifth set, Witten achieved the feat using his trademark serve. He served for the fourth time in the set four unanswered points to claim the set.
SET FIVE
The fifth set began with Goldstein on the serving end. Witten made a game of it bringing the score to 40-30 before Goldstein earned the win moving ahead 1-0.
Witten fell behind 30-0 in the second game, but once again dominated on the service end rattling off four consecutive points to even the score at one.
Goldstein responded claiming the third game and moving ahead by one, 2-1.
The eight-time U.S Open veteran earned his second consecutive victory to pull ahead by two, 3-1, after four unanswered points.
Witten jumped out to an early 30-0 lead, and the game eventually knotted in the 30th deuce of the match before Goldstein emerged with a 4-1 advantage.
Desperately needing a point, Witten once again found himself with an early 30-0 advantage. Goldstein fought back to force deuce before earning the game point and taking a commanding 5-1 lead.
With the match point looming and Goldstein serving, Witten held a 40-15 lead. Goldstein charged back and forced deuce before claiming the first round victory.
