Serving a double fault is like sending your opponent an invitation to break your serve. Serving two in the same game is basically handing it over on a silver platter.
Benjamin Becker served two double faults in his opening service game against Kei Nishikori, and quickly found himself down two sets to love against the number six seed.
Nishikori rolled early, defeating the German 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to move through to the second round of the 2016 United States Open this afternoon.
Double faults plagued Becker throughout the match, producing 10, including four in the fourth set that played a major part in his demise.
Becker lost the first two sets in 49 minutes, but rebounded strongly to take the third set, winning the important 0-4 shot rally length 23-17 in that set. It would prove to be the only time he rose above Nishikori in this critical category.
Becker surged at the start of the fourth set, breaking Nishikori at 1-1, courtesy of a huge forehand cross court return winner at 15-15, a monster forehand down the line winner on the ensuing point, and a backhand down the line winner at 30-40 to break Nishikori and get some wind in his sails.
And then the double faults came roaring back.
Becker served at 2-1, 40-30 in the next game, looking to extend his lead, and ultimately push the match to a deciding fifth set where anything is possible.
With the comeback well and truly on track, Becker double faulted twice in a row. Momentum suddenly hit a brick wall. Three points later, facing break point, Becker double faulted again to gift wrap the game.
The victory elevated Nishikori to number one for the tournament in baseline points won at 62 percent (63/102). That’s an ominous warning for the rest of the field.
Nishikori hit 17 forehand winners and 15 backhand winners for the match, highlighting just how even he is from the back of the court when he attacks. He only committed 10 forehand unforced errors and nine backhand unforced errors, making it very difficult for opponents to find a hole in his armor.
Overall, Nishikori managed the bigger moments better in the encounter, and also avoided getting into predicaments that could easily go sideways.
Nishikori only had five situations on serve with the score at 30-30 or deuce, winning three of them. Becker on the other hand had to battle through 17 points at 30-30 or deuce, winning twelve of them.
Once Nishikori got ahead in his service games, he was unstoppable. He held all nine times when he won the first point of his service game, while Becker only won six of 10.
Nishikori now plays 20 year old Russian qualifier, Karen Khachanov, in the second round. He will be looking to continue to build confidence as he mounts another campaign to reach the final here in New York.
ALSO: Click HERE for an ESPN article by Becker’s cameo coach from ESPN, Marc Stein.