Tauson Outlasts Alexandrova in Monterrey as Nishikori Moves a Win From the US Open Main Draw
Clara Tauson survived a three-set battle with Ekaterina Alexandrova to reach the Monterrey quarterfinals, while Kei Nishikori, Lloyd Harris and Bu Yunchaokete advanced to the final round of US Open qualifying on a day dominated by British success at Roehampton.
Kei Nishikori66Before the match we said62%Kei Nishikori
- 1
- Aces
- 0
- 0
- Double faults
- 3
- 71%
Clara Tauson provided the headline result of the day in Monterrey, edging Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 4-6 6-3 in a round of 16 contest that swung on margins rather than momentum. Tauson, ranked 42, took the opening set in a tie-break, lost her way for a stretch in the second, and then found the steadier baseline rhythm in the decider. It was the sort of win that tells more about a player's competitive nerve than her form chart.
The rest of the Monterrey draw filled out around her. Alycia Parks recovered from a set down to beat Maja Chwalinska 3-6 6-2 6-2, her serve increasingly decisive as the match wore on, while Darja Vidmanova came through against Cristina Bucsa 6-4 7-5 in a match that never quite settled into a comfortable pattern for either player. Vidmanova, ranked 90, has quietly assembled one of the more interesting weeks in the draw.
At Flushing Meadows, the qualifying semifinals delivered a familiar name in an unfamiliar place. Kei Nishikori defeated Michael Antonius 6-4 6-4, holding serve with the economy that has always defined him and putting himself one match from the main draw. Alongside him, Lloyd Harris survived the day's toughest examination in the men's event, recovering from a set down to beat Henrique Rocha 2-6 6-2 7-6 in a match decided by a third-set tie-break.
The other men's qualifiers were more straightforward. Bu Yunchaokete controlled his match against Borna Gojo 6-4 6-4, Liam Draxl dismissed Andrew Johnson 6-4 6-2, and O'Connell C. handled Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 7-5 6-4. Zsombor Piros needed all three sets to see off Daniil Glinka 6-3 5-7 6-4, a scoreline that reflected the difficulty of maintaining intensity across a long qualifying week.
On the women's side of qualifying, Heather Watson produced the day's most gruelling win, outlasting Angela Fita Boluda 6-4 5-7 7-6 in a match that went to a final-set tie-break. Francesca Jones also came through in three, beating Mona Barthel 7-6 1-6 6-2, and Mary Stoiana ended Katie Swan's run 6-7 6-3 6-3. Martyna Kubka (6-3 6-2 over Bassols M.), Nao Hibino (6-4 6-2 over Anna Siskova) and Tamara Zidansek (7-5 6-3 over Maristany G.) advanced in straight sets.
Roehampton 2 became an entirely British affair. Charles Broom beat Max Basing 6-4 6-2, Oliver Tarvet dismissed Emile Hudd 6-2 6-4 and George Loffhagen saw off Inaki Montes De La Torre 6-3 6-4. The only interruption came from Michele Ribecai, who beat Johannus Monday 6-3 6-4 to reach the last four. In Augsburg, on clay, Cezar Cretu (6-4 6-3 over Marvin Moeller), Sandro Kopp (6-2 6-4 over Martin Krumich), Facundo Mena (7-6 6-1 over Daniel Masur) and Benito Sanchez Martinez (6-4 6-3 over Hynek Barton) completed the semifinal field. Andres Andrade advanced in Kingston with a 6-4 6-2 win over Ivan Marrero Curbelo, and Oksana Selekhmeteva came through 4-6 7-6 6-3 against Capucine Jauffret in Philadelphia.
