Katie Boulter sees off Aliaksandra Sasnovich 5-7 6-2 6-1 in US Open opener as the British No 1 wins ugly at Flushing Meadows to book her place in the second round

On a beautiful day in New York, Katie Boulter won ugly to reach the second round of the US Open.

The British No. 1 lost the first set and had an unusually poor service day, but eventually won 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 against qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

The 28-year-old’s game is based on her serve, so there are positives to be taken from the way she secured the win despite hitting just 46 percent of her first balls.

After the first two games it looked like her effortless power would be too much for Sasnovich, but the Belarusian managed to fight her way back into the match. Boulter loves time and space with her big forehand, so Sasnovich got some pleasure from firing the ball flat and hard straight at her opponent.

World number 107 Sasnovich, who beat Boulter’s compatriot Heather Watson in qualifying, is an awkward customer. Her serve involves an extended pause – almost four seconds – at the start of the action and she plays with less spin than most. She also played, oddly given the 30C heat, in leggings and long sleeves.

World number 107 Sasnovich fought back in the first set after being 2-0 down early on

Boulter managed to get her game in order after the first set, but the Belarusian still had chances

When Boulter hit the first shot in a rally – either a serve or a return – she was dominant, winning 82 percent of the points behind her first serve in the first set, a figure that dropped to 32 in the second.

Given that she only managed to land 44 percent of her first serves, the math was off and Boulter was broken three times in a sloppy first set.

The British player then cleaned up her game, but Sasnovich had plenty of chances. Break points saved by Boulter at 4-2 in the second set and the first game of the third felt like a big moment.

Boulter served poorly and played poorly, but she still won. Sometimes such victories are the most satisfying.