COMEBACK KING YOUNG SENDS GRANDSTAND OFF WITH A THRILLER

Written by: Staff on 5th September 2015

COMEBACK KING YOUNG SENDS GRANDSTAND OFF WITH A THRILLER

epa04911816 Donald Young of the US reacts after defeating Aljaz Bedene of Great Britain during their match on the fourth day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/PETER FOLEY |

Ricky Dimon Reports From The U.S. Open Tennis The Comeback King Donald Young Sends Grandstand Off With A Thriller & He Is Now The Only Player Still In Singles , Men’s Dubs With Michael Russell & Mixed Dubs With Taylor Townsend

The last men’s singles match on the Grandstand at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will not soon be forgotten.

At least not by Donald Young–and not by almost everyone who was in attendance.

Staging his third consecutive comeback of this U.S. Open, Young stormed back from a two-set deficit to stun Viktor Troicki 4-6, 0-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4 after three hours and 33 minutes during round-three action on Saturday evening.

The unseeded American had previously dug out of a two-set and 3-0 in the third hole against Gilles Simon in his opener on Tuesday. Two days later, Young fell behind Aljaz Bedene by a set and 2-0 only to prevail in four. The 26-year-old played for three hours and 34 minutes and for two hours and 42 minutes in his won over Bedene. For those counting, that’s nine hours and 49 minutes through a trio of singles matches.

Donald Young of the US hits a return to Aljaz Bedene of Great Britain during their match on the fourth day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/PETER FOLEY

Moreover, he has another mixed doubles contest with Taylor Townsend scheduled for Sunday and is playing doubles with countryman Michael Russell. Young is the only competitor still alive in all three disciplines: singles, doubles, and mixed.

“This is what you put the hours in the gym for,” Young explained.

Perhaps the unwavering confidence in his ability to go the five-set difference is what helped Young keep going after the second set against Troicki–just as he had done versus Simon. The Atlanta native gave back a break in the third but came up clutch in the tiebreaker. With Troicki serving at 3-6, Young converted set point by rifling a forehand return winner off a 130 miles per hour first serve by his opponent.

With momentum finally in hand, Young stormed through the fourth. He broke serve twice and saved all four of the break points he faced as Troicki clearly started to feel the effects of this prolonged battle in his legs.

That set the stage for a dramatic fifth. Although Young seized a break for 2-1, Troicki would not go away without a fight. The 22nd-ranked Serb fought off a flurry of additional break points with huge serves to stay within striking distance. But Young never cracked. Even with the pressure on at 5-4, the crowd favorite could do no wrong and easily delivered a clinching service hold.

Photo via Instagram

The victory sent Young to the ground in delight and the raucous American fans into a frenzy.

“The crowd was awesome,” the world No. 68 said. “They made the court feel like home. Those fans honestly are the reason I was able to win.”

Those fans will never again see a men’s singles match on the Grandstand, which is being torn down after this year and replaced with a new one on the opposite side of the tennis center. But none of them can feel short-changed by the thriller of a finale that they witnessed thanks to Young.

When asked about giving the court a final send-off, the victor answered, “That’s what it turned out to be.”

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

Topics: 10sballs.com, 2015 US Open, Atp World Tour, Donald Young jr, Flushing Meadows, New York, Ricky Dimon, Sports, Tennis News, U.S. Open tennis, Viktor Troicki

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September 5, 2015 at 8:45 pm

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