The final round of the US Open Qualifying event is coming to an end and some stars have made it through, whilst some surprising names have found form at exactly the right time.
Young Canadian prodigy Denis Shapovalov came to worldwide prominence when he defeated current World No.1 Rafael Nadal in Montreal, but the teenager was forced to go through qualifying to reach the main draw. Fortunately for fans of the Canadian he made it, but it was not all easygoing in the final round.
There was no joy for qualifying top seed Leonardo Mayer though. A month ago he won the Hamburg 500 event to bring his ranking back into the Top 100. Sadly it came just too late for main draw entry and he was the top seed in qualifying. However, he was beaten 6-4, 7-5 by 18th seed Maximilian Marterer.
Shapovalov went up an early break against Jan Satral, before succumbing in a first set tiebreak. Shapovalov dropped just four games from that point to emerge victorious 6-7, 6-1, 6-3.
Tim Smyczek was the 10th seed in qualifying last year, but a dramatic loss of form has seen the American unseeded this year. Instead, Smyczek became a seed-killer, taking down 16th seed Quentin Halys in the first round. He then defeated compatriot Raymond Sarmiento in the second round before defeating 20th seed Peter Polansky 6-3, 6-4 in the final round.
8th seed Peter Gojowczyk became a high-profile exit as he lost 6-3, 6-3 to 30th seed Stefano Travaglia. The Italian will now feature in the main draw of the US Open for the first time.
4th seed Sergiy Stakhovsky will not feature in the main draw as he lost to Czech Vaclav Safranek. It seemed the veteran would take his place in Flushing Meadows after winning the first set, but Safranek hit back, and won 3-6, 7-5, 6-1. Like Travaglia, it will be Safranek’s first US Open main draw appearance.
JC Aragone has delighted the home crowds with his surprise performances to date in qualifying. The American is one of the lowest ranked players in the qualifying event at No.536. He defeated 5th seed Marco Cecchinato in the first round, and came through the last round with a stunning 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win over the in-form Akira Santillan.
Evan King was another lowly ranked American to stun the crowds by also making it through. King, ranked No.306, defeated compatriot and 31st seed Michael Mmoh 6-3, 6-3.
Britain’s Cameron Norrie, 27th seed Radu Albot, and Vincent Millot all also secured qualification.
