After Nishioka and Munar posted notable wins, Ruud avoided the upset bug in making it 0-3 for U.S. players on Center Court Thursday afternoon.

Great servers have realized that power and pace are not the end-all and be-all, and that their killer shots must be backed up with a solid return game.

The No. 2 seed memorably made his first ATP final in Houston on his first trip to the Lone Star State nearly six years ago.