Sam Querrey Nails Bradley Klahn in Groin on Way to Four-Set Win

NEW YORK -- Sam Querrey, the No. 20 seed and one of America's leading candidates to contend at this year's U.S. Open, won his opening round match on Wednesday, defeating Bradley Klahn 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Despite eleven double faults, the 6-foot-6 Querrey was otherwise dominant with his serve. He won 88 percent of the points on his first serve, including 19 aces to Klahn's six.

There was a brief break in the match of two hours and 29 minutes, when Querrey accidentally slammed the ball during the second set into the groin area of Klahn, who was at the net.

"That was an accident," said Querrey. "He hit a dropshot, and I ran up there and it was kind of better than I thought. So I kind of got a little confused where I was going to hit it. I kind of went at him. I didn't mean to hit it there. I felt bad because he's my buddy."

"I had kind of a delayed reaction," said Klahn, who will return for his junior year at Stanford on Sept. 20. "The first five seconds, I thought I was okay. Then I thought I'd better call for the trainer."

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After Klahn took a few minutes to recover and stretch -- while Querrey clearly felt badly about the pain he had put his pal through -- play resumed.

Klahn went on to win the set -- "I think it kind of loosed me up," he joked -- but Querrey broke his serve in the third and fourth to win the match.

The 20-year-old Klahn won the NCAA singles title this year. Querrey and Klahn are good friends who practiced with each other just days prior to learning from the draw that they would be matched up in the first round.

The 22-ranked Querrey has won four titles this year, second only to Rafael Nadal's five. The highlight of his season so far was his victory over Andy Murray at the Los Angeles Open.

"I'm feeling good out there," said Querrey. "I'm just trying to stay positive and keep my mind off things."

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