James McGee

One breezy day removed from Tropical Storm Arthur, the favorites breezed into final round qualifying at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, Rhode Island. Top qualifier Ante Pavic needed all of 53 minutes to defeat Frederik Nielsen, 6-3, 6-2. 2 seed Hiroki Moriya needed all of 55 minutes to advance past Divij Sharan 6-2, 6-3. Ruben Bemelmans played what seemed like a marathon, a 108 minute three set win over Gerardo Lopez Villasenor, 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-1.

The pair of Americans in qualifying also rushed through the opening rounds. Kevin King dispatched Jan Hernych, 6-4, 6-2, in 1:02, while Austin Krajicek wasted little time with Adrian Bossel, 6-2, 6-1 in just 42 minutes.

In the carnival sideshow, 42-year-old wild card Sandor Noszaly hit 12 double faults and gave himself little chance against 23-year-old Takanyi Garanganga. Garanganga won the match 3 and 3. Thus inspired, I will be seeking a wild card to qualifying next year.

The shortest match of the day was the double-bageling of Sarvar Ikramov in a 34 minutes. For a complete match.

The fans were due for a real match and they finally got one at the end of the day. James McGee came back and broke back in the second set on the verge of a straight sets loss. Snatching defeat, he then won the 2nd set tiebreak and grinded out a win over Michael Venus, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2. in 1:51.

On practice courts, Michal Przysiezny hit with Marius Copil and Steve Johnson with Donald Young.

Qualifying play continues tomorrow.

Michal Przysiezny

—S. Fogleman