Felix Leads #NextGenATP Surge At US Open Qualifying

The youth movement is alive at US Open qualifying, as the #NextGenATP contingent ruled on Day 2.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, the youngest player in the Top 200 of the ATP Rankings, led the charge with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Tallon Griekspoor. The 18-year-old moved into the second round after one hour and 32 minutes, overcoming a stern test from his Dutch opponent.

Griekspoor had a 0/40 look at Auger-Aliassime’s serve at 5-all in the first set, but the clutch Canadian fired four consecutive aces to deny the break chances and secure the hold. The swing in momentum was critical, as the teen reeled off eight of the last 11 games to close out the victory with authority.

“It could have gone the other way quickly,” Auger-Aliassime told ATPWorldTour.com. “He had 0/40 at 5-all in the first and I hit four aces in a row. That’s never happened to me before. I just tried to go for big first serves in that moment. I’m just happy it happened, but it could have gone either way. And it’s fun to see a lot of Canadians and a lot of people supporting me. It’s also very appreciated for a player to have that support, playing away from home. I’m very happy and I want to thank everybody who came out.”

Auger-Aliassime will look to go one step further than last year, when he exited in the second round of qualifying. He will face a tall order against big-serving Christopher Eubanks on Thursday, following the American’s 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win over Antoine Hoang. 

Both Auger-Aliassime (No. 12) and Casper Ruud (No. 10) are seeking strong performances in New York to propel them up the ATP Race To Milan standings. Ruud kicked off play on Wednesday with an efficient 6-2, 6-2 rout of Andrea Arnaboldi in 69 minutes. He sets up an all-#NextGenATP encounter against Max Purcell, who downed Blaz Rola 6-3, 6-4.

Fans on Court 11 were greeted with an early evening treat, as 18-year-old Miomir Kecmanovic earned his first US Open qualifying victory, rallying past home hope Reilly Opelka 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes. The Serbian withstood 17 aces from the American, cracking his big serve with a break at 3-2 in second set and in the first game of the decider. He will battle countryman Nikola Milojevic next.

“I know Reilly and obviously his serve is the biggest issue,” said Kecmanovic. “When his serve is going well, there’s not much you can do. I just have to hold my own games and hope to make some returns and wait for an error. And that’s tough to do because the ball bounces a lot here. I’m really happy I got through. It’s not every day you win a Grand Slam match.”

While Opelka’s qualifying quest came to an end, fellow Americans Ernesto Escobedo, Brandon Nakashima, Collin Altamirano, Mitchell Krueger and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski all emerged victorious in front of the home crowd. For 17-year-old Nakashima, it was a breakthrough afternoon on Court 5, rallying past Ante Pavic 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) in his tour-level debut.

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Meanwhile, Escobedo also needed a deciding tie-break to advance, outlasting top seed Jozef Kovalik 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4). He is eyeing a third straight main draw appearance in New York.

“It was a very tough match,” said Escobedo. “I just stayed mentally positive. He took control in the second set and I had to regroup and keep my focus. You just have to enjoy the moment. It’s incredible to play here in New York. It’s always a dream come true. I still have a long way to go but that was a good first round match.”

The Top 4 seeds in qualifying were all shown an early exit, with Kovalik joining Jurgen Zopp, Ilya Ivashka and Hugo Dellien among first-round losers. 

Other notable results include Ivo Karlovic defeating Illya Marchenko 6-3, 7-6(7) and Ugo Humbert surviving Pedja Krstin 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(3). Seeking his 15th main draw appearance at Flushing Meadows, Karlovic needed only 13 aces to advance. Humbert, meanwhile, is hoping to build on a strong lead-up to the US Open, which saw the 20-year-old reach three straight ATP Challenger Tour finals and lift his first trophy in Segovia, Spain. He has vaulted to a career-high No. 139 in the ATP Rankings and 14th place in the ATP Race To Milan.

The entire second round will be played on Thursday.