Dimitrov and Nishikori Set the Tone as US Open Qualifying Reaches Its Business End
Grigor Dimitrov brushed aside Lorenzo Giustino 6-0 6-3 and Kei Nishikori edged past Sebastian Ofner in three sets as the qualifying quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows produced a day of experience rewarded and narrow escapes, while the Challenger circuit delivered its own upset in Augsburg.
Grigor Dimitrov66
Lorenzo Giustino03Before the match we said66%Grigor Dimitrov
- 5
- Aces
- 1
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- Double faults
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The most recognisable names on the New York qualifying sheet did their work with minimum fuss. Grigor Dimitrov needed only two sets to move past Lorenzo Giustino, taking the first without conceding a game and closing out 6-0 6-3 in a performance that never invited a contest. Kei Nishikori had a rougher afternoon against Sebastian Ofner, storming the opening set 6-1, losing his way in the second 2-6, then reasserting control to win the decider 6-2. Two former Grand Slam finalists, two very different routes, the same destination.
The rest of the men's quarterfinals offered less star power but plenty of substance. Timofey Skatov was efficient in dismissing Gilles Arnaud Bailly 6-4 6-2, while Braden Shick backed up his run with a composed 6-4 7-5 win over Clement Tabur, holding his nerve in a second set that could easily have slipped away. Dusan Lajovic recovered from dropping the opening set 4-6 against Soon Woo Kwon to take the second 7-5 and continue his passage through the draw.
On the women's side, the day's most demanding match belonged to Tamara Zidansek, who survived Laura Samson 6-7 6-4 7-5 in a contest that swung repeatedly before the Slovenian found the decisive break late in the third. Harriet Dart travelled a similarly uneven road, opening with a 6-0 bagel against Jordyn Hazelitt, losing a second-set tie-break, then re-establishing order to win 6-1 in the third. Moyuka Uchijima was altogether cleaner, controlling Polona Hercog 6-3 6-3.
Elsewhere in the qualifying quarterfinals, Nao Hibino needed a tie-break to settle the opening set against Janae Preston before pulling clear 7-6 6-1, and Maristany G. ended Jodie Burrage's week 7-6 6-4 in a match decided on a handful of points. Kristina Penickova came through 7-5 6-2 against Elizabeth Mandlik, and Lucie Havlickova beat Elizara Yaneva 6-2 7-5, closing out a second set that had begun to tighten.
The clay of Augsburg produced the day's clearest surprise. Martin Krumich beat Dominic Stricker 6-2 6-3, a result that left little room for interpretation, and Cezar Cretu was even more emphatic in a 6-2 6-0 dismissal of Niels Mcdonald. Matias Soto handled Oleksii Krutykh 6-3 6-4, Marvin Moeller beat Thomas Faurel 6-1 6-3, Svyatoslav Gulin saw off Henri Haupt 6-3 6-2, Benito Sanchez Martinez defeated Murkel Alejandro Dellien Velasco 6-2 6-4 and Facundo Mena edged Rehberg M. H. 6-4 6-4.
British players dominated the hard courts of Roehampton, where Oliver Tarvet beat Matheus Pucinelli De Almeida 6-4 6-4 and Charles Broom needed only 6-4 6-1 against Leonardo Rossi. Inaki Montes De La Torre was the day's comeback story there, recovering from a set down to beat Gabi Adrian Boitan 3-6 6-3 6-3. In Kingston, Andres Martin produced the marathon of the round, beating Gijs Brouwer 5-7 7-6 6-0 after the second-set tie-break broke the Dutchman's resistance entirely. Thomas Fancutt beat Karl Poling 6-4 6-3 and Paulo Andre Saraiva Dos Santos was too strong for Angel Hernandez, 6-1 6-4.