It is simply mind-boggling to realize that I have lived in the USA for so many years and had never attended the qualifying rounds at the US Open before. The more I think about it, the more upset I get because I realized that I missed so many opportunities to be up close with so many future great tennis stars.

Yet, I am also a firm believer that there is no use crying over spilt milk; thus, moving on, I had a tremendous day at the qualies. I got there early enough to get my bearings and stake my claim on a front row seat.

I spent most of my day at court eleven and saw quite a few of the young American players battling their way for a chance to get to the main draw; unfortunately, a few were not able to get past the first round.

American Cori Gauff came up against the veteran Heather Watson; although she fought hard in the first set, it was not enough for the teenager to get past the Brit. Gauff was very nervous, understandably, and double faults and unforced errors made it very difficult for her to compete effectively against Watson, who handled the occasion with much more composure. Watson won 6-4, 6-1 (Gauff: left and Watson: right).

Ernesto Escobedo came out on fire and ran away with the first; however, Jozef Kovalik (SVK) was not ready to concede defeat that easily. Kovalik battled back to even the match but could not quite get past the fire power from the young American. Escobedo won 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4).

 

Uladzimir Ignatik of Belarus defeated the veteran Stephane Robert (FRA) 7-5, 6-1.

 

 

 

 

American Reilly Opelka was unable to secure the victory despite winning the first set. Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) simply refused to quit and kept chipping away at Opelka’s defense until he was able to get one break in the second and third sets to win 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4.

 

Katie Swan lost her lead in the third set but managed to fight off the heat as well as her opponent, Deborah Chiesa (ITA), to secure the three-set victory. The Brit won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and keeps her hopes alive of getting to the main draw.

 

 

I ended my day watching the young Canadian, Felix Auger-Aliassime. He started off really well then lost his focus enough to give his opponent the belief that he could win the set; however, a fortuitous call came to his rescue and woke him up to the realization that he was in danger of losing the first set after being up 4-1. Tallon Griekspoor (NED) did everything he could to stop the young Canadian but in the end it was not enough and Auger-Aliassime won 7-5, 6-3.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: serveandrally originals