Heather Watson Leads British Winners in US Open Qualifying

Heather Watson recovered from a set down to defeat sixth seed Claire Liu in the opening round of US Open qualifying, keeping alive her attempt to return to the New York main draw for the first time in five years. BBC Sport reported that the 34-year-old Briton won 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 after nearly surrendering a double-break advantage in the deciding set. Watson will next face Spain’s Angela Fita Boluda.

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Four British men also advanced. Toby Samuel rallied past Italy’s Francesco Maestrelli 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-1 as he pursues a first US Open main-draw appearance. His reward is an all-British second-round meeting with Billy Harris, who beat Peru’s Gonzalo Bueno 6-1, 6-3.

Jacob Fearnley defeated Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 and will play France’s Luka Pavlovic next. Harry Wendelken overcame Italy’s Stefano Travaglia 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to arrange a match against Switzerland’s Remy Bertola. Liam Broady and Felix Gill were eliminated, with Broady losing 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to Marco Cecchinato and Gill falling 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 to Francesco Passaro. Three qualifying victories are required to earn a singles main-draw place, with the main tournament beginning Sunday.

Elsewhere in qualifying, China’s Zheng Qinwen beat compatriot Xiaodi You 6-3, 6-2. The two-time US Open quarter-finalist, now ranked 121st after elbow surgery last year, is appearing in Grand Slam qualifying for the first time since the 2022 Australian Open. Zheng’s next opponent is France’s Clara Burel. Brazilian world number 26 Joao Fonseca, a French Open quarter-finalist, said he will miss the US Open because an abdominal injury requires more recovery time.

British doubles players Henry Patten and Lloyd Glasspool also advanced through two rounds of mixed doubles qualifying with their respective partners. Patten and Katerina Siniakova beat Americans Peyton Stearns and Christian Harrison in straight sets in their second qualifier and will face Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka in the main draw. Glasspool and Erin Routliffe defeated Marcelo Arevalo and Kristina Mladenovic before earning a first-round match against Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz.