O'Brien makes Second Round Of Qualifying At The US Open

Yorkshire's Katie O’Brien has reached the second round of qualifying at the US Open with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over the Ukrainian Lesya Tsurenko in a rain-interrupted match lasting five hours and fifteen minutes.

With conditions a little overcast play began at 11am (local time) and the pair managed to play three games before the rain forced an interruption. At the break O’Brien was 1-2 down, with games going with serve.

After the return, over two and a half hours later, O’Brien, the current world No.129 took the first set 6-4, but then lost it a little in the second to go 3-6 down. She regrouped fantastically though to take the third set 6-2 and win the match in convincing style.

After the match she said: “It was a bit scrappy. The conditions were difficult and I was hanging around a lot with the rain. We played three games initially and then went back on around 2pm, so we were off court for a good two and half hours. I was playing well, up until a set up and then I lost the plot a little bit in the second set. But after going 2-1 down in the third I pulled it together well and I think I was a tougher competitor in the end.

“I had a few words with myself after the second set, not always positive ones! I’ve been in this situation quite a few times now so I feel I’ve got more experience than a lot of these players and I just tried to stick to my game plan and stay disciplined.”

Her next opponent is Misaki Doi from Japan who O’Brien played last year and won 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. They will face each other on Thursday in the next round.

“I’ve got a day off tomorrow, “continued O’Brien, “and then play a Japanese girl, Misaki Doi on Thursday, a left-hander. I’ve played her before at the end of last year and won that one, so hopefully I can win again this time.”

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