Ahn Outlasts Di Lorenzo in U.S. Open Qualifying First Round

August 23, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff

Kristie Ahn fought back from a set down to defeat fellow American Francesca Di Lorenzo during the U.S. Open qualifying tournament on Tuesday, coming back for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win to move into the second round of qualifying.

Di Lorenzo came out firing in the opening set, breaking at love for a 3-1 lead and never looking back, winning the final four games of the set to take the opener 6-1.

But Ahn responded in the second set. As her movement and aggressiveness picked up, so did her shot making. She broke for a 2-1 lead, and even after giving back a break, went on to win the second set 6-3 to force a deciding third set.

At 3-4 down in the third set, Ahn fought away Di Lorenzo’s attempt at a key break, holding serve to knot things at 4-4. Ahn would carry that momentum into the next game, breaking Di Lorenzo in the next game before calmly serving out the match in the ensuing game.

Ahn advances to take on fifth-seed Kai-Lin Zhang of China in the second round. Zhang moved past Ukraine’s Yuliya Beygelzimer in her opening match Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, American Jessica Pegula cruised into the second round of qualifying with a 6-1, 7-6(6) win over Uzbekistan’s Nigina Abduraimova. Pegula converted on five of her 10 break point chances to notch the straight set win.

On the men’s side, 11th seeded American Ryan Harrison defeated Germany’s Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 7-6(1), 6-3, setting up a second round matchup with Belgium’s Joris De Loore, who was a 6-4, 6-4 victor against Aldin Setkic.

Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova pulled off the biggest upset of the afternoon, downing third-seeded Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-4, 6-2.

American Alexander Sarkissian advanced during the early session as well, converting four of his five break point chances on his way to a 6-4, 6-2 win over Gregoire Barrere of France. Sarkissian will take on the 25th seeded Frenchman Quentin Halys in the second round. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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