Tennis Atlantic

Kuznetsov Secures French Open Wild Card, Ryan Harrison Extends Winning Streak at Tallahassee

Alex Kuznetsov worked through a three set win over Peter Polansky 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 and secured the French Open Wild Card after Facundo Arguello grunted out a win over Wayne Odesnik 6-3, 6-3. Facundo smiled as he walked up to the net and did the familiar Del Potro-style kiss to the sky in victory. Kuznetsov may be dealing with some shoulder issues now, but he can rest much easier with his slam spot secured.

Tim Smyczek got through a tight first set with Gerald Melzer and won 7-6, 6-0. Smyczek was up an early break in the first but slipped on the ground and thereafter gave up the break. Still, he held serve until the tiebreak, won it, and then Melzer faded away fast.

Donald Young had no trouble with Mischa Zverev in beating him for the 2nd time this year, 6-2, 6-2. Young looks to be improving and you can’t help but notice that his on and off court demeanor and attitude seems much improved from where it was last year.

Same can be said for Ryan Harrison, though he did go berserk and snap a racquet in the second set today of his 7-5, 7-5 win over Alex Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic fought hard and made Harrison work for everything in a match played under a steady drizzling rain. In the end, a confident Harrison grabbed the win and advanced to the quarters. He hasn’t lost a match since the first round in Sarasota.

Cedrik-Marcel Stebe survived the young Korean Suk-Young Jeong 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 and cruising in the end. The streaky Denis Kudla managed to muscle his way past Bradley Klahn 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a two-hour marathon.

In the nightcap, Frank Dancevic ended the singles run of qualifier Christian” Harrison 6-4, 6-3.

In doubles, Sekou Bangoura and Reid Carleton got a walkover over Kuznetsov/Zverev, Aubone/Mirzadeh beat Davis/R. Harrison 6-2 7-6 and Krajicek/Sandgren took out Basilashvili/Melzer 6-4 6-4.

—Steen Kirby