Tennis Atlantic

Qualifiers Fight to the Finish as Men’s Main Draw Begins at Western & Southern Open

Qualifying finals are on tap on Sunday, where the winners earn spots in the main draws. Players to watch include American women Ann Li, Emma Navarro, Alycia Parks and Taylor Townsend. On the men’s side the match between Zhizhen Zhang of China, the first Chinese man to break into the ATP Top 100, faces 19-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils who has already won a title and has a Top 5 win this year. Spain’s Christina Bucsa was the first winner at the tournament yesterday in straight sets over Linda Fruhvirtova 6-0, 6-4. Also, Germany’s Daniel Altmaier will face Corentin Moutet, as both were three set win on Saturday. The 15 eventual qualifiers may not have a lot left in the tank to pull off a dream run like last year’s women’s champion, Caroline Garcia. There were 16 matches that went the three set distance yesterday under humid and hot conditions.

Give credit to the Western & Southern Open for offering interesting Sunday first round matches for a change: three young Americans and two facing each other. Ben Shelton, 2022 NCAA champion for the University of Florida, turned pro last summer and had his first big breakthrough right here when he upset world No. 5 Casper Ruud. He faces Christopher Eubanks, known to many fans for his massive media blitz on the Today show. He became a star at last month’s Wimbledon where he reached the quarterfinals. Sunday’s night session features world No. 10 Frances Tiafoe. Tiafoe, who was largely ignored by fans for years despite a push by the USTA and event organizers, was “discovered” by casual fans after his run to the semifinals at last year’s US Open and appearance in the Netflix series “Break Point.” He has already collected two titles this year. He faces Tallon Griekspoor, who has also won two titles this year and reached the final in Washington a week ago.

—W&S Media contributed to this report