KOZLOV ADVANCES IN U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING, TIAFOE LOSES IN THREE BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 20th August 2014

KOZLOV ADVANCES IN U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING, TIAFOE LOSES IN THREE BY RICKY DIMON

epa04040433 Stefan Kozlov of the US in action during his junior boys' singles final match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 25 January 2014. EPA/MADE NAGI |

Highly-touted American juniors Stefan Kozlov and Francis Tiafoe experienced different fortunes on the second day of qualifying at the U.S. Open. Kozlov faced countryman Mitchell Frank, who stars at the University of Virginia, and prevailed 3-6, 6-0, 6-2. Tiafoe battled No. 11 seed Tatsuma Ito for two hours and 22 minutes only to fall 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3.

Tiafoe had this to say on Twitter after the match: “Tough loss today in the us open men’s qualies I played a great match and I learned a lot from playing this match #hopetobebacksoon”.

Kozlov, of course, will be back on the court on Thursday. Next up for the 17-year-old Kozlov is a marquee matchup with Borna Coric of Croatia. Similarly high expectations have been bestowed upon Coric, also just 17 years of age. Already in the top 200 at No. 190 in the world, Coric recently advanced to the quarterfinals of an ATP event on the clay courts of Umag.

An all-American showdown between Rhyne Williams an Rajeev Ram is on tap for the second round. Williams took care of Roberto Carballes Baena 7-5, 6-3, while Ram ousted Martin Fischer 6-4, 6-4.

UCLA’s Mackenzie McDonald was on a collision course for the second round with Collin Altamirano, who played in the U.S. Open main draw last year after winning the boys 18s title in Kalamazoo. McDonald, however, faced a tough draw in his qualifying opener against No. 8 seed Ricardas Berankis and the Lithuanian prevailed 6-3, 6-2. Altamirano will face Berankis on Thursday after routing Italy’s Luca Vanni 6-4, 6-2.

Southern California’s Tennis Royalty Taylor Fritz got off to a strong start but fell to Jan Mertl 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Facing the No. 13 seed proved to be unlucky for Austin Krajicek, who went down against Slovakia’s Norbert Gombos 6-4, 6-3.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Austin Krajicek, Francis Tiafoe, Jan Mertl, Mackenzie McDonald, Martin Fischer, Rajeev Ram, Rhyne Williams, Ricky Dimon, Roberto Carballes Baena, Stefan Kozlov, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open