Marinko Matosevic admitted the mounting pressure of trying to break his grand slam duck contributed to another first-round exit from the US Open.
After promising back-to-back quarter-final appearances in Washington and Montreal, Matosevic slumped to a 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 2-6 loss to Spanish 19th seed Tommy Robredo on the first day of the Open.
The defeat was Matosevic’s 11th from as many grand slam matches and the Australian No.2 conceded that record took a toll.
“Obviously I think about the past grand slam results and the lack of wins,” he said.
“I beat Tommy in Indian Wells (in March) and so I know I can best him but I just couldn’t do it tonight.”
Robredo, looking ageless for a veteran and in his 12th year at the US Open, was simply too consistent for the 28-year-old world No.56.
After level pegging, Matosevic was unable to convert break points in the third and fourth sets and lost the match when Robredo chased down a drop shot and converted it into a classic lob winner.