Tuesday 26 August 2014 15:29, UK
James McGee’s US Open run came to an end as the Irishman was beaten 4-6 6-2 6-1 7-6 (7-3) by Aleksandr Nedovyesov in the first round of the main draw.
McGee reached the main draw of a grand slam for the first time after coming through the qualifying tournament in New York but could not progress any further.
The 27-year-old, ranked 194 in the world, may have hoped to keep his dream alive against an opponent who was also on the wrong side of the top 100.
But Kazakhstan’s Nedovyesov fought back from a set down to take a 2-1 lead and then held his nerve in a fourth-set tie-break.
“I gave it everything, Aleksandr was just a little bit better on the day today,” McGee, whose family and friends had flown out from Ireland to watch him, told Sky Sports.
“I would have loved to have got the win because of the support – and there’s been so much support back home. I just want to stay longer, I’ve really been enjoying it.
“In fairness he played well today. I just need to get back to work and get a little bit stronger physically and mentally. I think I can start winning those matches and go deeper in these tournaments if I put the work in.”
Elsewhere in the men's draw, Wimbledon quarter-finalist Nick Kyrgios received three code violations but still managed to record a 7-5 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 7-6 (7-1) victory over 21st seed Mikhail Youzhny.
Kyrgios had already been given two warnings for his bad language in the third set and a third at the start of the fourth set saw him penalised a game. One more would have handed the match to Youzhny.
The 19-year-old said: "I guess it was just heat of the moment. I was frustrated the way I was playing and it was just all that sort of stuff. It was just an outburst and hopefully I will be able to control that the next time I play.
"It comes from having high expectations most of the time. I have been an emotional player most of my career. Maybe I will be able to manage it in the future. It's a work in progress. It's something that's always been there."
Ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga safely made it through to the second round, although he did drop a set in a 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 defeat of Juan Monaco.
