American James Blake won his first-round match at the 2012 U.S. Open, defeating Slovak Lukas Lacko, 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Though Blake wasn't dominant, he played much better than Lacko. Blake served 11 aces to Lacko's four, and hit 39 winners to Lacko's 22.
Blake did have 49 unforced errors, and will undoubtedly have to tidy up his game if he's going to to continue to advance at the U.S. Open.
Blake will now face the winner of the match between Spaniard Marcel Granollers and American Denis Kudla.
Blake has never been past the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open, reaching them twice -- in 2005 and 2006. Blake lost in the second round in 2011, and in the third round each year between 2008 and 2010.
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