Wolf Claims US Open Qualifying Win
American J.J. Wolf enjoyed a dream run to the third round at the US Open last year and may have set the wheels in motion for another shot at the main draw as he moved past Denis Istomin 7-5, 6-2 Tuesday to reach the second round of qualifying in New York.
Wolf took full advantage of a wild card last year at Flushing Meadows, where it took Daniil Medvedev to stop him. But the World No. 157 has not won another main-draw match since leaving New York and is hoping to recapture that winning feeling at the year’s final Grand Slam.
The 22-year-old will next face Kamil Majchrzak after the Pole defeated Frederico Ferreira Silva 6-1, 6-4. Fellow American Maxime Cressy, who reached the second round at the US Open last September, also advanced with a 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 victory over Guido Andreozzi in two hours and 28 minutes.
Former World No. 33 Robin Haase downed Croatian Borna Gojo 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-1 to book his spot in the second round of qualifying, while Germany’s Oscar Otte, who took Andy Murray to five sets at Wimbledon, edged Renzo Olivo 6-7(3), 6-0, 7-6(4).
Buenos Aires finalist and qualifying second seed Francisco Cerundolo overcame Thai-Son Kwiatkowski 6-0, 6-7(5), 6-4. Seven-time tour-level titlist Fernando Verdasco defeated Facundo Mena 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 and Gstaad finalist Hugo Gaston overcame Czech Vit Kopriva 6-4, 6-2.