Australian teenage tennis sensation Nick Kyrgios faces a US Open baptism of fire after successfully qualifying for the season’s final grand slam in New York.
Kyrgios, the world’s top-ranked junior and reigning Australian Open boys’ singles and doubles champion, battled from a set down to defeat Tunisian Malek Jaziri 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the third and final round of qualifying at Flushing Meadows on Saturday.
The 18-year-old Victorian will be the youngest player in the 128-man event when he makes his main-draw debut at the hardcourt major starting on Monday.
Kyrgios’s reward is a first-round shot at fourth seed David Ferrer, the vastly experienced Spaniard who lost to Rafael Nadal in this year’s French Open final.
With Kyrgios considered one of the most exciting prospects in tennis – and the only teenager in the Flushing Meadows men’s draw – the match could well end up being staged under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, the biggest arena in world tennis.
Casey Dellacqua also advanced from qualifying on Saturday with a 7-5 6-4 win over Russian Ksenia Pervak, giving Australia a total of eight representatives in the men’s and women’s singles.
There could have been 10, but Anastasia Rodionova and Olivia Rogowska both lost in the final round of qualifying.
Dellacqua, in her fifth US Open, will meet Croatian Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round.
Dellacqua’s doubles partner Ashleigh Barty takes on Spaniard Estrella Cabeza Candela.
Australia’s best hope, 2011 women’s champion Samantha Stosur, will launch her bid for a second title against Victoria Duval after the rising American teenager also qualified on Saturday.
In a promising build-up, Stosur has won nine of 11 matches during the US hardcourt swing.
The world No.13 upset second-seeded Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the final in California three weeks ago to snare her first title since beating Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows two years ago.
Stosur is contesting her first tournament since splitting with long-time coach David Taylor last week and will work with Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik while in New York.
Australia’s former men’s champion Lleyton Hewitt will open against American Brian Baker, with the victor likely to strike 2009 winner and sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro in round two.
Australian No.1 Bernard Tomic meets Spaniard Albert Ramos in his first match at Flushing Meadows since being accused of tanking against Andy Roddick last year.
Marinko Matosevic, chasing his elusive maiden grand slam match win, squares off against Spanish 19th seed Tommy Robredo, while wildcard James Duckworth makes his US Open main-draw debut against American Tim Smyzcek.
