College Park Grade 1 Recap, Photos, Videos; Kenin Among Six Americans Advancing to US Open Third Round

My review of last week's ITF Grade 1 Prince George's County International Hard Court Championships is available today at the Tennis Recruiting Network.  The girls final between Katie Volynets and Hurricane Tyra Black was a dramatic one, which made up for the retirement by Nick Hardt in the first set of the boys final. Gilbert Soares Klier Junior of Brazil, who won the boys title, expressed doubt about playing the ITF Grade 1 in Canada when I talked to him after the match, and although he did make the trip to Repentigny, he retired in his first match.  Speaking of Repentigny, Emilio Nava won his match today, beating Jacob Fearnley of Great Britain 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Videos of the champions are below, with videos of the finalists Black and Hardt available by clicking on their names.  A photo gallery with 30 of the tournament's competitors can be found here.

Another hot day at the US Open ended with four American women and two American men advancing to the third round.

Taylor Fritz made the third round of a slam for the first time when wild card Jason Kubler of Australia retired, down 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, after turning his ankle.  Fritz will face No. 9 seed Dominic Thiem of Austria on Friday, after Thiem came back to defeat Steve Johnson 6-7(5), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. John Isner was taken to five sets and spent more than three and a half hours on court, but did reach the US Open third round for the tenth straight year, coming back to beat Nicolas Jarry of Chile 6-7(7), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4.

Sloane Stephens was tested by qualifier and 2014 US Open girls finalist Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine but the defending champion came through with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win.  The Williams sisters are set to meet for the 30th time Friday after both won their matches in straight sets today.

Sonya Kenin closed out the night for US players by coming back to beat No. 32 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. The 19-year-old, who reached the third round of the US Open last year, started slowly, going down 3-0, got back on serve, but was broken to end the set.  Kenin, the 2015 USTA National 18s champion, played flawlessly in second set, making just three unforced errors, and although she let a 4-1 lead slip away in the third set, Kenin was able to save two break points serving at 4-all, then broke Sakkari to win the match. She will face No. 8 seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic next. They met in the first round of the US Open in 2016, when Kenin had earned a wild card via the USTA's Wild Card Challenge. Pliskova won 6-4, 6-3, but Kenin has continued to improve since that meeting, as her steady rise up the rankings indicates.

Both USTA National junior doubles champions won a set today from their opponents, but could not navigate the final sets.  Patrick Kypson and DJ Thomas led 3-0 in the final set, but No. 10 seeds Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez of Spain won five of the last six games to earn a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory. Caty McNally and Whitney Osuigwe played a poor first set and a good second set, but fell to Desirae Krawczyk and Australia's Monique Adamczak 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

Wednesday’s second round matches featuring Americans:

WOMEN: (4-2)
Sloane Stephens[3] def. Anhelina Kalinina[Q](UKR) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
Serena Williams[17] def. Carina Witthoeft(GER) 6-2, 6-2
Venus Williams[16] def. Camila Giorgia(ITA) 6-4, 7-5
Sonya Kenin def. Maria Sakkari[32](GRE) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
Rebecca Peterson(SWE) def. Vania King 7-5, 6-1
Anastasija Sevastova[19](LAT) def. Claire Liu[WC] 6-3, 6-1

MEN: (2-3)
Juan Martin del Potro[3](ARG) def. Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(4)
Nikoloz Basilashvili(GEO) def. Jack Sock[18]  4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(3)
John Isner[11] def. Nicolas Jarry(CHI) 6-7(7), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4
Dominic Thiem[9](AUT) def. Steve Johnson 6-7(5), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
Taylor Fritz def. Jason Kubler[WC](AUS) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, ret.


Thursday’s second round matches featuring Americans:

Men:
Tennys Sandgren vs Novak Djokovic[6](SRB)
Frances Tiafoe vs Alex de Minaur(AUS)

Women:
Madison Keys[14] vs Bernarda Pera
Francesca Di Lorenzo[Q] vs Kiki Bertens[13](NED)
Taylor Townsend vs Jelena Ostapenko[10](LAT)