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Donald Young upsets Gilles Simon with come-from-behind victory

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Since winning a pair of junior Grand Slam titles in 2005 and 2007, 26-year-old Donald Young's career hasn't quite lived up to the promise he once had.

But the American opened his 10th career US Open in style via a five-set come-from-behind victory over No. 11 Gilles Simon to win 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. It was the first time in Young's career he had ever won a match after dropping the opening two sets.

"I was almost ready to go home there," Young told the home crowd following his emotional victory. He had never even won a set against the Frenchman in five previous meetings dating back to 2008.

It was also his second victory over a top-20 player in the past month after beating sixth-ranked Tomas Berdych at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, allowing him to advance to the second round of a Grand Slam for the ninth time in his career. He will face either Ernests Gulbis or Aljaz Bedene.

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