Wawrinka impresses as he sees off Dimitrov

Former US Open champion Stan Wawrinka defeated Grigor Dimitrov in the first round for the second successive grand slam.

The result came as a surprise at Wimbledon, with Wawrinka still struggling to find anything like his best play six months after returning from knee surgery.

But that has been the catalyst for an upturn in form and, with eighth seed Dimitrov having a poor season, Wawrinka’s 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory was significantly more predictable.

The result extended Wawrinka’s run of successive wins at Flushing Meadows to eight after he was unable to defend his 2016 title last season.

Wawrinka hit 30 winners, including six aces, to emerge victorious and hand Dimitrov back-to-back first-round grand slam exits for the first time in over five years.

Earlier this season at Wimbledon the Swiss recovered from a set down to eliminate Dimitrov 1-6 7-6 7-6 6-4.

The 33-year-old has won 39 of his 50 matches at Flushing Meadows, including each of his eight most recent encounters.

Wawrinka has reached the quarterfinals or better in each of his four appearances at the event since 2013.

With three service breaks to none in the opening two sets, Wawrinka quickly established control of the match, building on his strong performances at recent ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati.

But the third set proved to be much tougher for the Swiss, who finally dropped serve in the eighth game after saving his first seven break points of the encounter.

Dimitrov served for the set at 5-3, before the Swiss broke back to hold serve for 5-5.

The three-time grand slam winner then secured a second straight break and went on to seal victory with his sixth ace of the match.

Meanwhile, Milos Raonic overcame a spirited challenge from Argentine Carlos Berlocq 7-6 6-4 1-6 6-3 to reach the second round.

The Canadian beat the 35-year-old in two hours and 41 minutes.

No 18 seed Jack Sock beat Guido Andreozzi 6-0 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 while Gilles Simon eased past Lloyd George Harris 6-2 6-2 6-3.

Former US Open champion Stan Wawrinka celebrates reaching the second round.