Larcher de Brito, Berankis both win today
Two NBTA students took the courts for their second-round qualifying matches at the US Open, and both came out victorious. Fifteen-year old Michelle Larcher de Brito continued her stellar player with a 6-2, 7-5 victory ove American Abigail Spears and will now face Ioana Raluca Olaru in the third and final round. Olaru is ranked eight spots ahead of Michelle in the rankings, despite being four years older! These two have never faced before.
On the men’s side, Berankis pulled off an upset by beating top-seeded Sergiy Stakhovsky 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. Stakhovsky is ranked #91 in the world, while Berankis checks in at #476. Berankis, who finished 2007 as the #1 ranked junior in the world, will now face German Bjorn Phau in the final round of qualifying. These two met earlier this year at a Challenger in Scheveningen, with Berankis winning in straight sets.
If Larcher de Brito and Berankis win their third round matches, this will mark the first two either has played in the main draw of a Grand Slam. Congrats and good luck to both!
