British number two Cameron Norrie defeated American Zachary Svajda in two sets to reach the second round of Delray Beach.
Norrie, the 2022 winner, needed 90 minutes to seal a 7-5 6-4 victory on the world’s number 169.
The players exchanged service breaks in a first tight set played in hot and humid conditions in Florida.
A powerful forehand on the whole line gave Norrie a second crucial break, the 29 -year -old who was comfortably used to take the set.
With a second level just as tight at 4-4, Norrie could not convert five break points in an eighth game to gigantic before finally taking the sixth.
He then took the second of the two match points on his service to organize a second round meeting with the second French seeded Arthur Rinderknech or Gabriel Diallo from Canada.
