Reigning #NextGenATP champ Medjedovic advances in US Open qualifying

Hamad Medjedovic moved one step closer to competing in the US Open main draw for the first time on Tuesday. The champion of last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF kept his hopes alive with a gutsy qualifying performance, rallying past Oriol Roca Batalla 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round.

Each time the 21-year-old has competed in a major, he has advanced through qualifying, a good omen for the Serbian who next faces Duje Ajdukovic. Medjedovic qualified for Roland Garros for the second consecutive year in May and also reached the Wimbledon main draw in 2023.

Abdullah Shelbayh advanced to the second round after his 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory against Brandon Holt. The 20-year-old Jordanian, who last year competed in Jeddah and fell to Medjedovic in round-robin play, converted five of his six break points to defeat the 26-year-old Holt.

Shelbayh is seeking his first major main draw appearance. He reached the third round of qualifying at this year’s Australian Open, where he beat Medjedovic in the penultimate round.

Third seed Aslan Karatsev raced past Enzo Couacaud 6-3, 6-1 after winning nine of 10 net points across his 57-minute victory. Karatsev was clinical from the baseline too, hitting 28 winners compared to his opponent’s six.

Karatsev, who has twice reached the third round at Flushing Meadows (2021, 2023), is hoping to make his fourth consecutive appearance in the main draw.

China’s Buyunchaokete defeated Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-2, 7-6(4) while Pole Maks Kasnikowski overcame home hope Emilio Nava 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. Ajdukovic won the all-Croatian match against Dino Prizmic 6-2, 6-4. 

Nishesh Basavareddy, 19, led the American charge by outlasting Ugo Blanchet 7-5, 6-7(2), 6-4. J.J. Wolf, Mitchell Krueger, Patrick Kypson were among the other home hopes to advance.

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