On and off spurts of rain didn’t deter the junior boys and girls from kicking off their tournament on Day 7 of the 2024 US Open.
Despite some continuous stops and starts, the day saw young American talent who made an appearance in the men’s and women’s events over the last week kick off their quests for junior Grand Slam glory in the US Open Junior Championships. Iva Jovic, Kaylan Bigun, Matthew Forbes, and Tyra Caterina Grant were among those participants, and safely made it onto the next round.
Grant, in particular, was impressive: She didn't drop a game in her 6-0, 6-0 win vs. 2022 Orange Bowl winner Mayu Crossley.
Americans Valerie Glozman, Akasha Urhobo and Kristina Penickova, who all participated in the women’s qualifying draw, all also moved through to Round 2.
Out of the 30 Americans slated in Sunday's juniors schedule, 18—though a few had to battle hard—successfully made it through.
Day 1 saw a couple of sibling pairs in action, including a pair of Aussies and Americans. The No.1 girls' seed, Australia's Emerson Jones, runner-up Australian Open and Wimbledon, safely made it through in straight sets against American qualifier Maya Iyengar 7-5, 7-6(5).
But her older brother, No. 7 boys' seed Hayden Jones, he suffered a loss against New York native Dominick Mosejczuk 6-3, 7-6(8).
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Penickova and her twin sister Annika Penickova earned contrasting wins. Kristina Penickova, who is the No. 9 seed, came back from a set down to beat Elizara Yaneva 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Unseeded Annika Penickova, meanwhile, secured the upset over the No. 12 seed Antonia Vergara Rivera, winning 6-2, 6-3.
Top seeds including boys’ junior No. 1 seed Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, No. 3 Rei Sakamoto, and No. 5 seed Luca Preda safely into the next round after straight sets wins over their respective opponents. Four of the Top 5 seeds on the girls’ side— excluding No.5 seed Jeline Vandromme, who is scheduled to play Monday—all safely made it to Round 2.
But for four seeded players in the boys’ draw, it was a tough day in the office. In addition to Mosejczuk's win, American Noah Johnston came back from a set down to take out the No. 16 seed Marko Maksimovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; qualifier Luis Guto Miguel beat the No. 10 seed Amir Omarkhanov 7-6(3), 6-3; and Nathan Trouve beat No. 15 seed Miguel Tobon 7-6(5), 7-5.
