The marathon man of the 2019 US Open didn’t even qualify for the main draw.
Paolo Lorenzi, 37, has spent his fair share of time on the courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the past week and a half. After winning his first two qualifying matches in straight sets, the Italian fell in a third-set tiebreak against Jiri Vesely in the final round, succumbing after three hours, 34 minutes.
It wasn’t until Saturday afternoon, when he was at an exhibition with countryman Matteo Berrettini, that Lorenzi found out he would move into the main draw as a lucky loser, taking Kevin Anderson’s spot. He would have never imagined making the third round by winning two five-setters.
"I didn’t expect that, for sure. Also because I was very sad. I played a great match in the last round of qualies, just lost 7-6 in the third after more than three hours," Lorenzi said. "It was good because Saturday and Sunday I was practicing. I was trying to be ready for these two matches. I think that I was lucky, and also I was playing tennis."
What’s more incredible is the fashion in which he has advanced. Lorenzi fell two sets behind American Zachary Svajda in the opening round before battling to a four-hour, 20-minute victory. His second-round win on Friday against Miomir Kecmanovic took four hours, 48 minutes, bringing his total since arriving in New York to 16 hours.
"Of course I’m tired. But when you win, you’re both tired and happy, so that’s the most important thing. I didn’t know that I was on court as long as I was today," Lorenzi said. “I’m really happy because my physical [conditioning] was great and my tennis was much better than in the first round, so I’m happy."
Lorenzi did not compete in his first Grand Slam main draw until he was 28, at the 2010 Australian Open. And people told the Italian that he would find the most success at this level on the clay of Roland Garros. But Lorenzi has never advanced past the second round at any other major, yet he will compete in the third round here for the third time.
The Flushing fans have taken a liking to the veteran, as well, with plenty of them helping push Lorenzi through on Court 14 against Kecmanovic.
"Today the small court was full of people that were cheering for me, and I play tennis for these moments," Lorenzi said. “It feels great. When you are young, you start to play tennis for those moments. I’m lucky. I’m 37, and I still have these feelings, so I just enjoy tennis. This is my passion and my life."
Lorenzi will get another opportunity to make a splash when he faces 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka next. Wawrinka has won all six sets he has played across three matches against Lorenzi.
"My first problem is to recover for tomorrow," Lorenzi said. "But, of course, when you play tennis, you play to play with these champions."
When Lorenzi was speaking with USOpen.org, Berrettini walked by with a smile on his face once he saw his compatriot: "He’s too young for this!" Berrettini joked.
"We’re really good friends, and I’m really happy about his wins," said the No. 24 seed, who also advanced to the third round on Thursday. "He was asking me, 'Do you know someone that could pull out?' And I said, 'I don’t know, actually.' But I got a good feeling. We found out together, and I’m happy for him.
"You can lose in the final round of qualies, 7-6 in the third, having chances because he was down a break [in the third set] and then had a couple break points at 5-5. But Vesely lost in the first round, so that’s tennis... You have to be ready."
It’s clear that Lorenzi was, and he hopes to inspire those following his run the way they have inspired him.
"I was not good at the beginning of my career," Lorenzi said. "I was just trying to improve, improve my tennis to be a professional, and I hope many young players see that they can improve too."
