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US Open

2018

Sebastian Korda

Match Report
18-year-old is one of six Americans to advance on Day 1
Dramatic comebacks were the theme of Day 1 at US Open qualifying, with a bevy of players storming back from a set down to reach the second round.

Making his Grand Slam qualifying debut, Sebastian Korda turned in an impressive 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 comeback over countryman Dennis Novikov on Tuesday. Boys' champion at the Australian Open earlier this year, Korda stormed back from a set and a break down, eventually prevailing after one hour and 53 minutes.

With his mother and father, former World No. 2 Petr Korda, in the crowd, the American teen battled back from a 4-2 deficit in the second set and recovered once again after conceding a break to open the decider. He will hope his good run of form continues against Argentine veteran Facundo Bagnis on Thursday.

"I just stayed in there and fought my hardest," Korda told ATPWorldTour.com. "I saw that he was struggling a little bit and I took advantage. I started playing really well after that. It feels pretty good. And I had my dad and my mom here and that's always great to have them supporting me. I've had some tough three-set losses against some good players this year, so it feels good to get it done."

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Korda wasn't alone in providing the heroics on Tuesday. In front of a packed crowd on Court 11, Christian Harrison overcame former World No. 10 Ernests Gulbis 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. The Louisiana native faced a 0/40 deficit while serving down 4-3 in the third set. He would deny four break points to stay alive and eventually triumph after two hours and six minutes.

"I was just trying to think about playing the next point," said Harrison following the match. "Nothing really crazy, but just thinking about how I want to execute. It was awesome to see so many fans come out too. I wasn't expecting this at all. It's great for the players and makes it a lot more fun for us."

Harrison

Harrison, who made his US Open main draw debut as a qualifier in 2016, is hoping to replicate that dream run this week. The 24-year-old seems to have a flair for the dramatic, having rallied from a set down in all three qualifying matches that year. He faces #NextGenATP Spaniard Pedro Martinez on Thursday.

Other Americans advancing to the second round include JC Aragone, who edged Thiemo de Bakker 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(5), and Evan King, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 winner over Christian Garin. Both made their Grand Slam debuts last year as qualifiers. Also, Bjorn Fratangelo downed Roberto Cid Subervi 6-3, 7-6(4) and awaits Dominican veteran Victor Estrella Burgos next.

In a highly-anticipated all-Aussie clash, Thanasi Kokkinakis also rallied from a set down, upending Bernard Tomic 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in one hour and 25 minutes. The 22-year-old fired 20 aces and saved five of six break points to advance on Court 12. Kokkinakis is riding a wave of momentum after lifting the trophy at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Aptos, California, two weeks ago. It was his first singles title in three years.

"I gave him the break by hitting three double faults in my first service game," said Kokkinakis. "In the second set, I tried to make a few more balls and put a little more effort in myself. Then it was one-way traffic. The crowd was packed and it didn't feel like first round of qualies. But I need matches like this."


Other notable winners on Day 1 include #NextGenATP stars Hubert Hurkacz and Lloyd Harris. Hurkacz, No. 9 in the ATP Race To Milan, routed John-Patrick Smith 6-3, 6-2, while Harris dismissed Roberto Quiroz 7-6(5), 6-3 in a swift 79 minutes. The South African is in the midst of a dominant 12-2 stretch after winning his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in Lexington, Kentucky, earlier this month.

The first round continues on Wednesday, with top seed Jozef Kovalik and Americans Ernesto Escobedo, Reilly Opelka, Christopher Eubanks and Ulises Blanch opening their qualifying quests.

Canadian is one of four teenagers to advance on Wednesday
The youth movement is alive at US Open qualifying, as the #NextGenATP contingent ruled on Day 2.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, the youngest player in the Top 200 of the ATP Rankings, led the charge with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Tallon Griekspoor. The 18-year-old moved into the second round after one hour and 32 minutes, overcoming a stern test from his Dutch opponent.

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Griekspoor had a 0/40 look at Auger-Aliassime's serve at 5-all in the first set, but the clutch Canadian fired four consecutive aces to deny the break chances and secure the hold. The swing in momentum was critical, as the teen reeled off eight of the last 11 games to close out the victory with authority.

"It could have gone the other way quickly," Auger-Aliassime told ATPWorldTour.com. "I hit four aces in a row. That's never happened to me before. I just tried to go for big first serves in that moment. I'm just happy it happened, but it could have gone either way. And it's fun to see a lot of Canadians and a lot of people supporting me. It's also very appreciated for a player to have that support, playing away from home. I'm very happy and I want to thank everybody who came out."

ATP Race To Milan

Auger-Aliassime will look to go one step further than last year, when he exited in the second round of qualifying. He will face a tall order against big-serving Christopher Eubanks on Thursday, following the American's 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win over Antoine Hoang.

Both Auger-Aliassime (No. 12) and Casper Ruud (No. 10) are seeking strong performances in New York to propel them up the ATP Race To Milan standings. Ruud kicked off play on Wednesday with an efficient 6-2, 6-2 rout of Andrea Arnaboldi in 69 minutes. He sets up an all-#NextGenATP encounter against Max Purcell, who downed Blaz Rola 6-3, 6-4.

Fans on Court 11 were greeted with an early evening treat, as 18-year-old Miomir Kecmanovic earned his first US Open qualifying victory, rallying past home hope Reilly Opelka 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes. The Serbian withstood 17 aces from the American, cracking his big serve with a break at 3-2 in second set and in the first game of the decider. He will battle countryman Nikola Milojevic next.

Kecmanovic

"I know Reilly and obviously his serve is the biggest issue," said Kecmanovic. "When his serve is going well, there's not much you can do. I just have to hold my own games and hope to make some returns and wait for an error. And that's tough to do because the ball bounces a lot here. I'm really happy I got through. It's not every day you win a Grand Slam [qualifying] match."

While Opelka's qualifying quest came to an end, fellow Americans Ernesto Escobedo, Brandon Nakashima, Collin Altamirano, Mitchell Krueger and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski all emerged victorious in front of the home crowd. For 17-year-old Nakashima, it was a breakthrough afternoon on Court 5 as he rallied past Ante Pavic 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).

Read Day 1 Report

Meanwhile, Escobedo also needed a deciding tie-break to advance, outlasting top seed Jozef Kovalik 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4). He is eyeing a third straight main draw appearance in New York.

"It was a very tough match," said Escobedo. "I just stayed mentally positive. He took control in the second set and I had to regroup and keep my focus. You just have to enjoy the moment. It's incredible to play here in New York. It's always a dream come true. I still have a long way to go but that was a good first round match."

The top four seeds in qualifying were all shown an early exit, with Kovalik joining Jurgen Zopp, Ilya Ivashka and Hugo Dellien among first-round losers.

Other notable results include Ivo Karlovic defeating Illya Marchenko 6-3, 7-6(7), and Ugo Humbert surviving Pedja Krstin 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(3). Karlovic, seeking his 15th main draw appearance at Flushing Meadows, needed only 13 aces to advance.

Humbert, meanwhile, is hoping to build on a strong lead-up to the US Open, which saw the 20-year-old reach three straight ATP Challenger Tour finals and lift his first trophy in Segovia, Spain. He has vaulted to a career-high No. 139 in the ATP Rankings and 14th place in the ATP Race To Milan.

The entire second round will be played on Thursday.