Fourth seed Karolina Pliskova edged out Amanda Anisimova in the second round of the US Open by a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (7) scoreline on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Czech set the tournament record for aces in a match with 24 aces and hit 39 winners to just 22 unforced errors to set up a third-round match with Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic.
Pliskova breaks tournament ace record in marathon victory
Each woman held fairly routinely through the first six games with Anisimova saving a break point in the fourth game the only real chance for either player.
After breaks were traded midway in the set, the American saved another break point to level at 5-5. The 2016 finalist then had to fend off a pair of break chances to move within a game of the set.
At 30-30, a deep Pliskova backhand brought up set point and she again used that shot effectively again as it skidded off of the baseline to give the Czech a one-set lead.
The second set saw both players dominate on serve with Anisimova losing just five points while Pliskova dropped just six. The set would head to a tiebreaker and in the breaker the returner won nine of the 12 points.
The decisive moment came when at 8-7, Pliskova double faulted to hand the set to Anisimova and level the match at one set apiece. The splendid serving continued into the third set.
Anisimova struck early in the breaker, a series of forehands forcing an error from Pliskova to make it 2-0 and the lead was extended to 5-2. The Czech rallied, but still faced a match point down 7-6.
The American saved four break points in the 11th game, the only chances for either player and held for a 6-5 lead. Pliskova did the same and the match would be decided in a final set tiebreaker.
This time, Pliskova wiped out the American's chance with corner to corner hitting to earn a backhand error from the American to level at 7-7. An Anisimova forehand brought up match point and after 2 hours and 21 minutes, Pliskova roared as Anisimova hit her 37th unforced error.