 Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Sep 2007 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 03 Sep 2007 |
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| 04 Sep 2007 - Flushing Meadows, New York - Eleanor Preston |  Related Audio |
| Australians flourish at Flushing Meadows |
 An Interview with Ryhne Williams (MP3 format)
An Interview with Jessica Moore (MP3 format)
An Interview with Greg Jones (MP3 format)
 
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Australians Greg Jones and Jessica Moore overcame what appeared to be tricky first round draws to progress at the US Open. Jones, who was a finalist at junior Roland Garros earlier this year, beat the aptly named Tennys Sandgren of the USA 4-6, 6-2, 7-6. 17-year-old Moore knocked out two time junior grand slam finalist Madison Brengle with a 6-4, 6-2 win over the American.
“It was a tough first round and it’s just good to get through matches like that when probably I wasn’t feeling the best and playing the best,” said Jones. “The first match of every tournament is tough: New conditions, new surroundings and for a lot of the time new opponents who you’ve never seen before in your life. All those things make you feel a little uncomfortable and awkward.” Jones believes that his experience in junior grand slam tournaments gives him an advantage over some of his rivals and came into play when his match against Sandgren went to a tense decider. “I think it helps particularly against some of the younger guys who maybe haven’t been there and done that,” explained Jones. “It showed again today. I’ve played a million long third set matches and I’m not sure about him but I was able to draw on my previous experiences and get through it.”
Moore could have been forgiven for cursing her luck at drawing Brengle in the first round. The American was runner-up at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior tournaments and was seeded three for her home junior grand slam. Moore, though, put in a near-flawless performance and says that she will take plenty of confidence from beating such an accomplished player in her own back yard. “I haven’t had many matches in the last four weeks so to have a win today was pretty confidence boosting,” said Moore.
The Australian played seed Lucie Safarova in the first round of the main draw in New York after receiving a wildcard courtesy of the United States Tennis Association’s reciprocal wildcard agreement with Tennis Australia. An American player will receive direct entry into next year’s Australian Open in exchange. Moore enjoyed the experience but, more importantly, used it as part of her education. “I had a chance to play Safarova who’s 20 in the world and you can’t really get much better than that so I feel like I’ve learned a lot,” said Moore. “I feel like I have to step up a level and I want to continue that throughout this week in juniors and not move back down a level.”
Despite trying to make a transition to the pros, Moore is a big advocate of the ITF’s Junior Circuit and like all those involved in the juniors at Flushing Meadows is benefiting from serving her apprenticeship in junior tennis. “I’ve had a lot of matches playing ITF junior tournaments and I feel that I wouldn’t have the opportunities to play in the seniors if I hadn’t had that path to follow,” said Moore. “You can’t really put juniors aside because it’s been a great stepping stone for me. Hopefully I’ll only play less than one more year of juniors because you want to keep moving forward but it’s definitely played a big part.”
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