Young guns and former US Open junior champs making waves in New York
There may be no junior draws at the US Open in 2020, but plenty of players and recent alumni from the ITF Juniors ranks have been making an impact in week one in New York, as well as some former boys’ and girls’ US Open champions making waves in the main draw.
Thursday’s second round action at Flushing Meadows saw two former US Open boys’ champions clash, with 2016 winner Felix Auger-Aliassime produce a scintillating display to down 2012 US Open champ – and 2004 boys’ winner – Andy Murray in straight sets to reach the third round for the first time. Auger-Aliassime is one of three Canadians through to the round of 32 alongside Davis Cup by BNP Paribas teammates Denis Shapovalov – his 2015 US Open boys' doubles-winning partner – and Vasek Pospisil.
In the women’s draw, Amanda Anisimova, the 2017 girls’ singles champion, found herself in the rare position of facing a younger opponent at a major, the 19-year-old battling back to beat 16-year-old Katrina Scott in three sets. Wild card Scott, the junior world No.60 and a member of USA’s triumphant Junior Fed Cup team in 2019, will see her WTA ranking rise from No.637 after beating Natalia Vikhlyantseva to reach the second round on her Grand Slam debut.
Coco Gauff may not have matched her 2019 heroics on her return to New York, but doubles partner Caty McNally is still in contention, with her second-round showdown with Ekaterina Alexandrova entering a third set when the rain came on Thursday. McNally is the youngest remaining player in either singles draw, while she and Gauff are through to the second round of the women’s doubles. The duo won the girls’ doubles title together in 2018.
The oldest former junior champions in the draw, 2002 champion Richard Gasquet and 2003 winner Kirsten Flipkens, both fell in the second round, leaving 2005 champ Victoria Azarenka to pick up the mantle. The Belarussian downed compatriot and No.5 seed Aryna Sabalenka to reach the third round and will face either Sachia Vickery or Iga Swiatek for a place in the last 16. On the men’s side, Borna Coric, winner in 2013, is the longest-serving boys’ singles champ still in contention – up next for the Croatian is No.4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.