Bellis Rolls to Advance in U.S. Open Qualifiers

August 24, 2016 | By Brian Coleman

American CiCi Bellis cruised into the second round of U.S. Open Qualifiers on Wednesday, blowing past Macedonia’s Lina Gjorcheska 6-0, 6-2 to advance.

Bellis, who burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old with her upset win over Dominika Cibulkova at the 2014 U.S. Open, wasted no time in the opening set. She started things off with a break in the opening game, and went on to win all six games to take the first set 6-0.

Bellis would then break early again in the second set on her way to opening up a 4-1 advantage and never looked back, wrapping up the straight set victory in just 48 minutes.

Up next for Bellis is fellow American Grace Min, who defeated another American, 21st-seeded Julia Boserup, 6-4, 6-2.

The top seeds in both the men’s and women’s qualifying tournaments both advanced on Wednesday as well.

On the women’s side, top-seeded Kristina Kucova of Slovakia outlasted American Sachia Vickery, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 to move on, while Japan’s Yuichi Sugita, the top seed in the men’s draw, rolled over France’s Alexandre Sidorenko 6-2, 6-3.

The 23rd-seeded American Austin Krajicek was upset by Blaz Kavcic, as the Slovakian edged out a 7-5, 7-6(2) victory, setting up a matchup with Canada’s Steve Diez who rolled 6-1, 6-0 over Netherlands’ Antal Van Der Duim.

Credit all photos to Brian Coleman

 


 


Brian Coleman

 Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com

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