Day 1 at US Open qualifying sees big names compete

Published August 22, 2018

Fans attending the US Open qualifying would have recognized plenty of famous names in the loaded draw. A slew of former top stars faced a mixed fate on Day 1 on Tuesday.

Former world No. 10 Ernest Gulbis fell in a three-set match to American Christian Harrison, the younger brother of Ryan Harrison.

Former Top 5 player @TRobredo headlines the #USOpen men's singles qualifying draw, along with Bernard Tomic, @ivokarlovic and Ernests Gulbis.

Which players are you cheering on into the main draw?

Read More: https://t.co/5mBvxL5aQ4 pic.twitter.com/gIIgRY4JfJ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 20, 2018

In one of the most high-profile first round qualifying matches, Thanasi Kokkinaki beat fellow Aussie, Bernard Tomic 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, to move on to the second round.

.@TKokkinakis battles his way past B. Tomic with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 win in R1 of #USOpen qualifying.

Read more: https://t.co/gpMcwDBgjn

Watch all of the action on @TennisChannel / @espn + pic.twitter.com/a8nfTb9kXM
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 21, 2018

It's no secret that former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard has struggled over the last few years, but she got off to a hot start by whipping past fellow Canadian Carol Zhao, 6-0, 6-1.

.@geniebouchard on her way to a straight set win over Carol Zhao to make Q2 at the @usopen pic.twitter.com/Oy0xFXhHUu
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) August 22, 2018

Another past Wimbledon runner-up, Sabine Lisicki suffered a different fortune by falling in a competitive affair to new mom Olga Govortsova, 6-4, 7-5.

.@OGovortsova joins the #InsideTennis podcast with @ninapantic1 and @IrinaFalconi to tall about her comeback after having a son in February—She's off to a great start at the #USOpen qualifying this week: https://t.co/lmc1Xte48D pic.twitter.com/rPUJpQnSsk
— TENNIS (@Tennis) August 22, 2018

The most dramatic, up-and-down qualifying match of Day 1 went the way of teenager Marta Kostyuk. The 16-year-old survived six match points to get past Valentyna Ivakhnenko.

Kostyuk completes the comeback 7-6(4) in the third from match points and 5-1 down in the third. Loved the atmosphere and support from fans/team Tsurenko. pic.twitter.com/J5YicaNCEg
— David Kane (@DKTNNS) August 21, 2018

Day 2 of US Open qualifying action features another full day of play in Flushing Meadows, with a big mach setting the stage on Court 11 between American 14-year-old Coco Gauff and Heather Watson.

Lauren Davis
Coco Gauff
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Bethanie Mattek-Sands

Day 2 of #USOpen qualifying has it all: https://t.co/CeAGTGS7NF
Stream live at 11am ET→ https://t.co/tPoe44TDv0 pic.twitter.com/Z0VH9AK0Lw
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 22, 2018

Youngsters will be the theme of the day as Katie Swan, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Francoise Abanda are all hitting the court on Wednesday.