Glushko impresses at grand slam
TENNIS JULIA Glushko expressed delight after making a winning return to the grand slam stage, securing her place in the second round of the Ladies Singles at the US Open.
Ranked 162 in the world, Glushko of Israel came through three qualifying rounds to reach the main draw of her first grand slam tournament since 2014.
She rallied from a set down to beat Romania’s Monica Niculescu (52) 3-6 7-5 6-4 despite injuring her knee in the second set, when she crashed into the post of the net and needed medical attention for 10 minutes.
Glushko remarked:
“I felt fantastic after the match and really good about the victory. It was a long and tiring game but
I’ve seen the doctor and my knee is fine and he has confirmed that
I’ll be fit for my next match. I need to rest to be strong for that.” The 28-year-old, who was outside the world’s top 300 in April, has enjoyed a remarkable run of form since hiring Amir Hadad and Keren Shlomo as her personal coaches. Hadad said: “It was Julia’s fight, determination and whole heartedness that earned her this victory.” Camila Giorgi of Italy joined Glushkko in the second round after beating Whitney Osuigwe of America 6-4, 6-1. Thirteenth seed Diego Schwartzman progressed to the second round of the Men’s Singles after winning an all-Argentinian affair 6-2, 7-6, 6-2 against Federico Debonis.
Noah Rubin, the former Wimbledon junior champion, was eliminated in four sets by Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.