Milwaukee’s Smyczek in U.S. Open

Tim Smyczek of Milwaukee secured a spot in next week’s U.S. Open when he defeated Peter Polansky of Canada, 6-3, 6-4, in a third-round qualifying match Friday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

Smyczek, who is ranked No. 203 in the ATP world singles rankings, cruised past the 50thranked Polansky in a brisk 1 hour, 21 minutes. In the match, Smyczek won a total of 70 points, while Polansky claimed just 56.

Smyczek, 29, is 1-6 in 2017, and has a 36-69 career record in ATP and Grand Slam events. His opponent in the U.S. Open hasn’t been determined.

Smyczek has competed in the U.S. Open five previous times. His best finish was in 2013 when he reached the third round, losing to Spain’s Marcel Granollers, 6-4, 4-6, 0-6, 6-3, 7-5. Smyczek was the last American in the men’s singles draw that year.

Smyczek, who now lives and trains in Tampa, Fla., was a high-school standout at Brookfield Academy.

Also in Friday’s U.S. Open draw, Maria Sharapova’s first Grand Slam match in more than 11⁄2 years will come against No. 2-seeded Simona Halep in a first-round match.

The USTA awarded a wild-card invitation to Sharapova, who is ranked 147th after returning from a 15-month doping suspension in April. She was suspended after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.

For the men, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are on the same side of the men’s bracket, meaning they could meet in the semifinals.

Nadal is seeded No. 1 for the first time since 2010 after returning to the ATP’s top ranking this week. Federer is seeded No. 3. They have played 37 head-to-head matches, including 12 at major tournaments but never at the U.S. Open.

The year’s last Grand Slam tournament starts Monday in Flushing Meadows.