Jack Draper endured a difficult return to the US Open but battled past qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez and into the second round on Monday.
The world No. 5 was playing his first match since a shock loss to Marin Cilic at Wimbledon more than seven weeks ago, after which he was diagnosed with bone bruising in his left arm and forced to take time away from the court.
He eventually came through in four sets against 203rd-ranked Argentine Gomez but it was a lot closer than he would have liked, with Draper eventually wrapping up a 6-4. 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-2 victory after one minute over three hours.
"I wasn't too sure if I was going to make it here this year, my team did a great job," said Draper, who next faces Belgian Zizou Bergs.
"It wasn't my finest performance but credit to my opponent, he played some outstanding tennis and I look forward to hopefully improving as the tournament goes on.
"I'm not putting too much expectations on myself. I know if I can get that level back, I'm going to be tough to be beat."
He struggled on serve and there was a suspicion that he may have again been sick on court -- 12 months ago he vomited several times during his semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner.
He eventually concluded that anti-inflammatories rather than tension were probably the main culprit, but there was no doubt this was a big occasion for Draper given his success here last year and lack of preparation.
He played down concerns about the lingering effects of his arm problem, but admitted he was expecting to feel discomfort, and a compression sleeve -- accentuated by the sleeveless top of new sponsors Vuori -- was a reminder.
The 23-year-old's serve was certainly not the weapon it can be. He served five double faults -- three in the same game late in the second set -- while his average first-serve speed was only 109mph, around six miles per hour lower than during his matches here last year.
Gomez, 28, spent two years as a tennis coach in Miami before deciding to pursue his dream, and he certainly did not hold back on Louis Armstrong Stadium, sending down serves above 140mph.
He earned many fans among the New York crowd, which always has a large Latin American contingent, with his whole-hearted approach, including an attempted tweener and shot played around his back.
He also possesses a mighty forehand and it became more and more of an issue for Draper, who had appeared just about in control of the match until late in the second set.
He played a dreadful game at 5-4 to lose his break advantage and, although he moved ahead again straight away and closed out the set, he immediately went a break down in the third.
Back came Draper again but it was Gomez who was rewarded for his brave approach in the tie-break, saving a match point before forcing a fourth set.
Draper looked like he could be in serious trouble but he regathered himself well in the fourth set and finished with some of his best tennis of the contest.
Norrie advances after Korda injury
Earlier on Monday, Cam Norrie profited from the injury-induced retirement of opponent Sebastian Korda to reach the second round of the US Open on Monday.
American Korda began to show signs of a back injury early in the contest and, after losing the second set to trail 7-5, 6-4, he pulled the plug, sending Norrie through to the last 64 for the sixth time at Flushing Meadows.
The British No. 2 was forced to miss the tournament last year because of an arm problem and will hope to pick up the momentum again following his run to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
Norrie was surprised to see Korda opt to shake hands -- but was happy it gave him the opportunity to watch Newcastle take on Liverpool in the Premier League.
"I feel for him," said Norrie, who had lost three of their four matches. "I don't know what was going on. He's such a talented player. I hope he's OK."
Norrie, ranked 35, arrived in New York on a three-match losing run but began well in what was initially a close contest on a packed Court 17.
After Korda saved three break points at 4-4, Norrie took advantage of another chance two games later, letting out a huge roar towards his support camp.
He served out the set and then immediately broke serve again at the start of the second, prompting Korda to call the trainer for treatment to his back.
The 25-year-old was considered among the most promising of a large group of young American men but injuries have derailed his progress, with Korda only just back on tour following three months out with a shin injury.
It was no surprise, therefore, that he was left hanging his head at yet more physical issues and, after Norrie withstood pressure to serve out the second set, Korda opted to call it a day.
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Norrie, whose preparations for the tournament included playing with the beach volleyball team at his former university in Texas, revealed the worst part of his day was trying to force down chicken and rice at 10 a.m. ahead of his early start.
"Obviously with the nerves and everything, you're trying to get as much fuel as you can in you," he said. "It was only a couple of bites, so it was tough to keep going with that."