Denis Shapovalov’s star continues on its fast-rising trajectory with eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga his latest victim at the US Open. The #NextGenATP Canadian qualifier dismissed the Frenchman 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(3) to reach the third round on Wednesday. After taking down big names Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro en route to the semi-finals on home turf at the Coupe Rogers early this month, Shapovalov transferred his red-hot hard-court form to Flushing Meadows. His victory over Tsonga came on the heels of his first-round defeat of fellow #NextGen ATP player Daniil Medvedev. [ALSO LIKE] It completed a strong day for the #NextGenATP charge, with Borna Coric downing fellow 20 year old, No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev, to join Taylor Fritz...
There is something magical about Lucas Pouille at the US Open. For the second straight year, the Frenchman claimed a five-set thriller in New York, battling to reach the third round on Wednesday. Pouille refused to succumb to #NextGenATP home hope Jared Donaldson, prevailing 7-5, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4 after three hours and 27 minutes. It was a war of attrition in front of a packed crowd on Court 17, as Donaldson battled back from two sets down and looked to be in prime position to complete the comeback. But Pouille would hold his nerve in the decider, breaking for 5-4 and holding to love to close out the victory. "The crowd was not really cheering for me, but it...
The #NextGenATP bragging rights belong to Borna Coric after the Croat’s upset of No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday. In the battle of the 20-year-old former junior rivals, Coric retained his unbeaten record against the German with a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(1), 7-6(4) upset on Grandstand. “Of course I needed it … I had a rough few months,” Coric said. “I was struggling with my neck injury. I was not really sure what it is. I didn't play ... So it does mean a lot definitely. It's going to give me some extra confidence. But at the end of the day, it's only a tennis match. [In a] day and a half...
Very few players have been chasing a goal for as long as Adrian Menendez-Maceiras. He never surrendered and, on a sunny Wednesday morning, he received the prize of his life: his first Grand Slam main draw win. He made it at the US Open, defeating American wild card Patrick Kypson 6-4, 7-6(9), 6-1 after two hours and 31 minutes. "It was in the works,” said the 31-year-old Spaniard. “Every player dreams of something like this." If at first you don't succeed, try again. Even if it takes 10 times. At No. 148 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Menendez-Maceiras came to Flushing Meadows for the 10th time in his career. He had never advanced through the qualifying draw. But this time everything...
Juan Martin del Potro, the charismatic and popular Argentinean, got his US Open campaign off to a strong start on Wednesday when he defeated Swiss Henri Laaksonen 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(5) in two hours and 33 minutes. Appearing at the US Open for the fifth time since he captured the 2009 trophy, No. 24 seed del Potro lost his serve only once and struck 15 aces, among 32 winners, for his 25th match win at Flushing Meadows. Eight years ago, del Potro snapped Roger Federer’s 40-match winning streak at the major in a five-set final win. "I got great memories from this tournament. I had all my best memories playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and it's amazing to have chances to...