Two Americans pulled off Houdini-like escape acts to qualify for the main draw of the Australian Open. Taylor Fritz and Ryan Harrison joined 14 other players in securing a spot in the field of 128 in Melbourne.
Fritz and Harrison Score Magical Wins
American teen phenom Taylor Fritz went through all the highs and lows one could possibly experience in a tennis match in the final round of qualifying on Saturday. The 18-year-old came back from down 0-4 in the final set against Mischa Zverev to gain entry into his first Grand Slam main draw via a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4 victory. Fritz won the final six games of the third set, leaving himself to marvel at his accomplishment in his post-match interview. “It was just having the heart and guts to keep going,” Fritz said. “A lot of people don’t expect their opponent to try so hard when down a double break. I think I caught him a little off-guard."
Fritz's reward for his escape act will be a first round meeting against fellow-American Jack Sock. Sock is the 25th seed, but will head into the tournament with some fitness questions. Sock retired from the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland on Saturday due to ilness. A quick turnaround could benefit Fritz against a less-than-100 percent Sock.
Ryan Harrison was just as close to extinction in his final round qualifier against Aleksandr Nedovyesov. Harrison blew three set points in the opener as Nedovyesov rallied to take the tiebreak 10-8. Things would turn even more bleak in a second set tiebreak as the American found himself down 6-3 and looking elimination squarely in the eye. The American would fight off four match points in all in the set and pull off the miraculous tiebreak win 8-6. That momentum carried Harrison into the final set where he survived a shaky first service game and then broke his opponent in the second game. He would not look back as he finished off the 6-7 (8), 7-6 (6), 6-3 win. Harrison will face Russian Andrey Kuznetsov in the opening round of the main draw.
Other Americans Score Mixed Results
Third seed Tim Smyczek will join Fritz and Sock in the main draw. Smyczek rallied from down a set to eliminate Kenny De Schepper 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Two other Americans were not as fortunate. Bjorn Fratangelo, the 17th seed, was ousted by Great Britain's Daniel Evans 7-5, 4-6, 6-0. Evans advances to his first main draw in Melbourne and will play 18th seed Felciano Lopez. American Dennis Novikov fell short in his bid for the main draw as the 32nd seed was beaten by 12th seed Yuichi Sugita 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Sugita moves into the main draw where he will take on Gael Monfils in round one.
Other Third Round Results
Jozef Kovalik def. (2) Ruben Bemelmans 6-2 7-6 (7)
Pierre-Hugues Herbert def. (11) Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3 1-6, 9-7
(13) Tatsuma Ito def. Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
(22) Mirza Basic def. Saketh Myneni 3-6 6-4, 8-6
Radek Stepanek def. (24) Alejandro Gonzalez 6-3, 6-1
(30) Daniel Brands def. James McGee 7-6 (1), 6-4
Di Wu def. Niels Desein 6-2, 6-1
Peter Gojowczyk def. Alexander Kudryavtsev 3-6 7-6 (3) 6-2
Stephane Robert def. Karen Khachanov 1-6 6-4, 6-2
Marco Trungelliti def. Yan Bai 6-4 6-7(8) 3-0 (Retired)
Renzo Olivo def. Vincent Millot 6-2, 6-4