Spain’s Martinez Upsets Home Favourite In US Open Qualifying

Spain’s Pedro Martinez earned the upset of the day on Wednesday at US Open qualifying. The 22-year-old from Alzira stunned 10^th seed Tommy Paul of the U.S. 6-4, 6-4 to make the last round of qualifying at the season’s final Grand Slam tournament.

Martinez had three match points at 5-3 in the second set on Paul’s serve, but the American, No. 112 in the ATP Rankings, saved all three and had a break point on Martinez’s serve at 5-4. The Spaniard, however, erased it and clinched his sixth match point. He saved all four break points for the match.

The 22-year-old Martinez qualified at Roland Garros in May for his first Grand Slam main draw appearance. He is coached Javier Ferrer, brother of legendary Spaniard David Ferrer, who retired at the Mutua Madrid Open in May after a 20-year career that saw him reach a career-high of No. 3 in the ATP Rankings and win 27 ATP Tour titles.

Martinez will face another American in 18-year-old Jenson Brooksby for a place in the US Open main draw. The 6’2” teenager from California upset Japan’s Yuichi Sugita, who won the 2017 Turkish Airlines Open Antalya, 7-6(4), 7-6(3).

Two South Koreans also advanced to within a win of reaching the main draw. Hyeon Chung, the 29^th seed on the comeback from a back injury, routed Italy’s Stefano Napolitano 6-2, 6-3 and will meet ninth seed Mikael Ymer. The #NextGenATP Swede dismissed Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis 7-5, 6-4. Ymer earned his first Grand Slam win at Roland Garros.

Third seed Soonwoo Kwon of South Korea also advanced in straight sets, beating Germany’s Oscar Otte 6-2, 6-4 and will meet Canada’s Steven Diez, who beat Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki 6-2, 5-7, 6-0.

Veteran Nicolas Mahut will not celebrate a 14^th main-draw showing in New York. Germany’s Dominik Koepfer beat the 37-year-old Frenchman 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3.