WHAT HAPPENED: Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym scored the biggest win of his pro career by surprising No. 30 Brandon Nakashima of the United States in a bruising marathon, 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(8), on Wednesday to reach the US Open third round.
Kym won the final set 10-point match tiebreaker 10-8 on his second match point to finish the four hour and 20 minute battle that had the fans jamming for every seat and viewing spot around Court 12.
The marathon fell about 20 minutes short of the longest match of the tournament so far, between Daniel Altmaier and Hamad Medjedovic in the first round.
Ranked No. 175 in the world, Kym is playing in his first career Grand Slam main draw here at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The 22-year-old Kym is the first Swiss man to make it this far at the US Open since Dominic Stephan Sticker and the 2016 champion Stan Warwrinka did so in 2023.
Both players showed plenty of nerve and grit through the ups and downs of a tense fifth set. Kym got the early service break on a Nakashima double fault for a 2-0 lead. The 24-year-old American, vying to reach the third round here for the third time in his career, broke right back. The former University of Virginia standout then held serve and broke Kym again for a momentum-building 3-2 lead.
Kym wouldn't fold. He stiffened and immediately responded to break with a crisp forehand volley winner for 3-3.
In the final-set tiebreak—played first to 10 points—Kym once more got the quick 2-1 lead and stretched it out to 9-7 and two match points. He squandered the first on a forehand error, and then taking the net forced Nakashima into a backhand passing shot error.
WHAT IT MEANS: Kym’s career prize money coming into the tournament was $389,412. By reaching the third round he is assured of a $237,000 payday.
MATCH POINT: Kym kept his composure and nerve playing before a pro Nakashima crowd. He will likely have to do the same in the next match on one of the marquee stadium courts, against fourth-seeded American and last year’s US Open finalist, Taylor Fritz, a winner over South African Lloyd Harris.
