144th-ranked Otte moving on

Oscar Otte started the U.S. Open ranked No. 144 in the world and is now in the third round of the U.S. Open after he beat Denis Kudla, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Quality win for the qualifier. And he’s not alone in Flushing Meadows.

Otte is one of five qualifiers to reach the third round, the most in the U.S. Open since 1984. Fellow German Peter Gojowczyk, Henri Laaksonen, Alex Molcan and Botic van de Zandschulp are still in the longshot hunt for a U.S. Open title.

It’s the most qualifiers to reach any Grand Slam third round since the 2011 French Open had six. Laaksonen and van de Zandschulp both beat seeded players in their early matches.

Otte will face Andreas Seppi, who knocked off 10th-seeded Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday.

Baseball

STERLING SAVED FROM FLOOD>> Yankees broadcaster John Sterling was helped out of his flooding car by Spanish radio play-by-play man Rickie Ricardo on Sept. 1 after Sterling got stuck trying to drive home after a game. Sterling and Ricardo both called New York’s game at the LA Angels from New York because radio crews haven’t resumed traveling with the team as part of COVID-19 protocols.