World number 224 and 2018 Australian Open Junior champion Sebastian Korda from the USA reeled off 11 straight games after losing the opening set to upset French veteran Gilles Simon 3-6 6-0 6-1 in the final round of the qualifying tournament at the Western and Southern Open in New York.
The son of former Australian Open champion Petr Korda lost in the first round at the New York Open in his only previous ATP tour level main draw appearance.
Korda set up a first round clash against 21-year-old Finnish player Emil Ruusuovuori, who reached his first Masters 1000 Main Draw after Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro, who was trailing 4-6 1-2 when he withdrew from the match.
“It’s definitely awesome, especially after all the time off. It was not easy mentally, I am super happy to get through. It’s a big opportunity for me and I am really excited to get out there and keep fighting. The first set was really close. We both had some break points. In the second and third sets I played a little better and I think he was struggling a little bit on serve”, said Sebastian Korda.
Italy’s Salvatore Caruso beat number 7 seed Jordan Thompson 6-4 6-4 to reach the Main Draw. The Italian player, who beat his compatriot Jannik Sinner in the first qualifying round, will face Filip Krajinovic in the first round.
Cincinnati native JJ Wolf came back from one set down to beat Spain’s Jaume Munar 2-6 6-2 6-4. Wolf will take Richard Gasquet in the first round.
“It means the world to me, especially being the Cincinnati tournament, even if it’s not based in Cincinnati this year. It’s very close to my heart and I would not want it to be anywhere else. To get over this hump is a big breakthrough for me”, said Wolf.
MacKenzie McDonald battled past Dominik Koepfer 6-7 (0-7) 7-5 7-6 (7-5).
World number 102 Marcos Giron from the USA came back from a set down to beat Gregoire Barrere 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.
