Simon Survives Qualifying Scare At Farewell US Open

Gilles Simon’s Grand Slam career lives on for at least another day thanks to yet another heroic comeback by the Frenchman in Wednesday’s US Open qualifying action.

After his memorable five-set win against Pablo Carreno Busta in his farewell Roland Garros, the Frenchman made an even greater escape in a 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 win against home favourite Michael Mmoh. Down a double break at 2-5 in the second, Simon raised his level with his back against the wall as he won 11 of the final 12 games at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Simon, who is set to retire after the 2022 season, used an efficient performance on return to complete the turnaround, converting on six of seven break chances after failing to create a look in the opening set. The 37-year-old denied Mmoh on two attempts at serving out the match at both 5-2 and 5-4 in the middle set.

He will continue to play for his 15th US Open main-draw appearance in a Thursday meeting with Matteo Arnaldi in the second of three qualifying rounds. The #NextGenATP Italian was a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 winner against 24th seed Ryan Peniston in the opening round.

Sealed with an ace and a big 😁 pic.twitter.com/2fDUf3710M

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 24, 2022

Max Purcell, already a Grand Slam champion this season after his Wimbledon doubles triumph alongside fellow Aussie Matthew Ebden, made a strong start in his bid to qualify for a second straight major singles draw. (He earned his way into the Wimbledon singles draw before losing a five-set first-round match to Adrian Mannarino.)

The 24-year-old was a 6-0, 6-4 winner against Serbia’s Nikola Milojevic. He will next face second seed Daniel Elahi Galan, a 6-3, 6-2 winner against #NextGenATP Italian Luciano Darderi.

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Two-time US Open quarter-finalist Fernando Verdasco also advanced on Wednesday as he seeks his 18th main-draw appearance in New York and his first since 2019. The Spaniard downed Italy’s Gianluca Mager 7-6(5), 6-3.

Popular Belgian Zizou Bergs was also among the winners after he scored a tidy 6-2, 6-4 result against Argentina’s Renzo Olivo, saving all four break points against him.

In the day’s biggest upset, Portugal’s Pedro Sousa dismissed third seed Henri Laaksonen 7-5, 6-2.