Marin Cilic has sealed a place in the fourth round of the US Open by beating Kevin Anderson 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 at Flushing Meadows this evening.
The 14th seed came out on top in an open first set where both players lost their serve early on, but the Croatian found his stride towards the end to lead the match.
Cilic struggled in the second, though, getting less than half of his first serves in, while the big-serving South African fired seven aces past him on his way to leveling the tie.
The third followed a similar pattern to the first, with the 18th seed coming from a break down early on, only for Cilic to edge back in front near the end of the set.
Anderson took the lead in the fourth as he tried to force the match into a deciding set, but a comeback from Cilic left him serving for the match.
The South African had a break point as he battled to keep himself in the tournament, but Cilic was too strong.
Cilic will face France's Gilles Simon in the next round.
Sian Cowper
