Strong Jewish interest at US Open

JACK MILNER

The focus is on two players in particular – Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman in the men’s draw, and Italy’s Camila Giorgi in the women’s event.

Other Jewish players at this year’s tournament are Israel’s Julia Glushko, the only representative from that country in the singles draw; and American Noah Rubin. With Dudi Sela ruled out through injury, Israel’s other representative is Jonathan Erlich in the double draw. Teaming up with Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, they take on American duo Austin Krajicek and Tennys Sandgren in the first round of the men’s doubles.

Glushko had to qualify for the tournament, and she did so for the first time since 2014. She drew Romanian Monica Niculescu in the first round, and to the Israeli’s delight, she went through to the second round in a hard-fought encounter.

Rubin, who was given a wild card into the tournament, sadly lost his first-round match in tight four sets to Mikael Kukushkin of Kazakhstan, 3-6 1-6 6-4 6-7.

However, there was good news for both Schwartzman and Giorgi, who both won their way to the second round.