Fernando Verdasco will not be able to play his 70th Grand Slam, a round figure that will have to wait, because the Madrid native fell in the second round of the qualifying phase of the US Open against the unknown Turkish 26 years old and 189th in the world Cem Ilkel by 4-6, 6-3 and 6-4 in 2:24. Verdasco, who had never had to play a Grand Slam qualifying in his career, since he began participating in Wimbledon 2003, could not avoid the comeback of his rival, who broke his serve three times. Verdasco, who has undergone surgery several times in the last two years and missed Roland Garros and the US Open last year and in 2021 the Australian OpenYou can't quite find a way to find your place on the circuit again. With his current ranking of 132, it is very difficult for him to enter tournaments and regain points and positions in the classification.
Pete Staples / USTA
The one who did advance and is one step away from the men's main draw is Bernabé Zapata. The Valencian passed those of Caín to surpass the combative Italian of 32 years and 215º of the world Roberto Marcora, whom he beat in the tiebreaker of the third set of a very tight duel: 7-5, 3-6 and 7-6 (7). Zapata had a match point in the twelfth game of the third set and raised one with 6-5 against in the tie-break. He will face this Friday (17:00, Eurosport) in the third round the German Oscar Otte, 23rd seeded.
In the women's draw, Nuria Parrizas beat the 24-year-old American and 184th in the world, Francesca di Lorenzo, quite easily (6-1 and 6-2 in 1:23). The 30-year-old from Granada, who has recently entered the top-100 (she is 94th), was far superior and will play a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. She will do so if she defeats the 30-year-old and 191st Hungarian Reka Luca Jani this Friday (17:00, Eurosport), but also if she loses, because she is the third seed and would enter as a play-off. for the casualties of Sofia Kenin and the Williams sisters.
Masarova and Bucsa, one win
It is also close to debuting in a major Rebeka Masarova, the Spanish born in Basel (Switzerland) 22 years ago, who got rid of her compatriot Lara Arruabarrena 7-5 and 6-1. She will play for a spot in the draw against the 23-year-old and 142nd Romanian Jaqueline Cristian (5pm, Eurosport). The same as Cristina Bucsa, who beat the 18-year-old American and 767th Elvina Kalieva, whom she won by a double 6-3 in 66 minutes. The 23-year-old, based in Cantabria and of Moldovan origin, will meet the French Dodin (around 9:00 pm, Eurosport), fifth favorite.
Results of the US Open preview.