Veterans Melzer, Smyczek Advance On Day One Of US Open Qualifying

Former World No. 8 Jurgen Melzer began his quest for a 15th US Open main draw appearance, downing American Tennys Sandgren 7-5, 6-1 on Tuesday. The 2011 doubles champion, Melzer kicked off the first day of qualifying in New York with the victory after just 74 minutes.

“The first match of a tournament is never easy, but it was a very solid match,” said Melzer. “I kept my focus and won in straights so it’s on to the next one.”

Competing in his first Grand Slam since last year’s US Open, having recently undergone shoulder surgery, he will face Guido Andreozzi in the second round. The Austrian is coming off a strong week at the ATP World Tour 250 event in Kitzbuhel last month, where he stunned top seed and countryman Dominic Thiem. It was his first victory over a Top 10 opponent in more than five years.

“It gave me all the confidence that I needed after a 10-month break, showing that by body can hold up. It was a very good match and a good tournament. I’m happy to play at a level I’m satisfied with. I want to win matches again and that’s what I’m here for. It’s not easy playing 14 years in the main draw here and then go through qualies but that’s the way it is.”

Joining Melzer in the second round is fellow veteran Tim Smyczek, a 6-3, 6-4 winner of Russia’s Alexander Kudryavtsev. The 10th-seeded American prevailed after 73 minutes, firing three aces, while saving all seven break points faced.

“It feels really good,” said Smyczek, who will face Guilherme Clezar next. “I haven’t been winning that many matches lately, so it feels good. I’m looking to build on it because I did some really good things out there. And they were things that I do well when I’m stringing matches together.”

“Billy’s message to me is pretty much the same throughout,” Smyczek added, referring to coach Billy Heiser. “It’s been about me receiving the message and playing every point with intensity and not taking any off.”

Also battling into the second round of qualifying was #NextGen star Quentin Halys. The Frenchman snapped a six-match losing skid in style, launching nine aces en route to a dominant 6-1, 6-3 win over Egor Gerasimov. He will meet American Alexander Sarkissian on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 11th-seeded American Ryan Harrison earned a 7-6(1), 6-3 win over Cedrik-Marcel Stebe. Having previously lost to Stebe in a fifth set at Wimbledon qualifying in 2011, it was sweet revenge for the Louisiana native.

The upset of the day came on Court 4, where Stebe’s countryman Daniel Brands stunned fourth seed and World No. 99 Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5). The big-serving German fired 14 aces in claiming the win after one hour and 56 minutes. Aussie Matthew Barton provided just as big a shock when the World No. 194 saved a match point in downing fifth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-6(6).

Wednesday’s action at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center features #NextGen stars Karen Khachanov, Jared Donaldson, Stefan Kozlov and Andrey Rublev, with former Top 10 player Radek Stepanek and top seed Yuichi Sugita also opening their campaigns.