Tuesday, August 24th-Men's & Women's Qualifying, Day One ![]() I have watched players grow up, from playing their first match in the junior qualifying, to retiring after a professional career. I've also watched successes like the Bryan Brothers -- now officially the greatest doubles team of all time with a current record of 64 tournament titles -- and John Isner go off to college and then come back to America's Grand Slam event. Of course, everyone wants to know who the next tennis stars will be and where some of the current ones came from, so follow me for the next few weeks as I watch past, present and future college and junior standouts at the U.S. Open. I got to play catch up with lots of players today, but I'll save more reminiscing and get right to the tennis -- what there was of it. I had heard that it was a very dry, extremely hot summer in New York. I have yet to see any of that. The temperature had trouble climbing to 70 today and a (mostly light) rain brought delays and cancelled matches. The weather had no effect on Ryan Harrison (above). The 18 year old Texan was the first of the matches off the court, entering the rain delay with a 5-0 lead and dismissing Jonathan Dasnieres De Veigy of France, 6-1,6-4, soon after.
Sloane Stephens, who turned professional this past March, was looking like a pro on Monday as she beat Anals Laurendon, 6-4,6-1. Bob Van Overbeek (below), this year's Kalamazoo finalist, will not have to wait to start at the University of Florida. Nerves appeared to get the best of him as he fell to Croatia's Nikola Mektic, 6-4,6-0.
There's lots more college and junior players to look at on Wednesday and the weather is looking a bit better, though still on the cool side for this time of year. Until tomorrow,Marcia Frost ![]() Click here for all
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