By Hanlon Walsh
Opening day of the 2024 Fayez Sarofim U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship kicked off featuring eight first round singles qualifying matches with full stands, sunny skies and pleasant temperatures.
In an all-American matchup between players with strong family lineages in professional tennis, Brandon Holt defeated Martin Damm, Jr. 7-5, 1-6, 6-2. Holt, 25, is the son of WTA legend Tracy Austin, while 20-year-old Damm Jr. is the son of ATP doubles standout Martin Damm, Sr.
Several players with Texas ties scored victories on opening qualifying day. Gijs Brouwer, who was born in Houston and represents the Netherlands, won a dramatic three-setter over American Tristan Boyer 6-0, 3-6, 7-6(4). Brouwer, a 2023 U.S. Men’s Clay semi-finalist and 2022 quarterfinalist, has played some of his career-best tennis on the red clay at River Oaks Country Club.
American Mitchell Krueger, a Dallas resident, knocked off No. 1 seed Gabriel Dallo in consecutive tie-breakers, 7-6(4), 7-6(6).
A pair of former Texas A&M standouts, Patrick Kypson and Valentin Vacherot, both scored wins to advance to the final qualifying round. No. 2 Kypson defeated Kiranpal Pannu 6-2, 6-2 while No. 3 Vacherot defeated American Ethan Quinn 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Wu Yibing, the 2023 Dallas Open champion, scored a straight-set victory over No. 7 seed Clement Tabur 6-4, 6-4. Wu was playing his first match since the 2023 U.S. Open after being sidelined following a foot operation last October.
Other day one winners included No. 4 Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan and No. 5 Alexander Ritschard of Switzerland.
Looking Ahead: Qualifying Final Round
During the final round of qualifying on Sunday, eight players from six different countries will compete for four spots in the main draw.
A trio of Americans headline Sunday’s action featuring No. 2 Kypson, Krueger and Holt. Court 3 matches will feature Krueger squaring off against Brouwer followed by Kypson versus Holt. On Court 7, No. 3 Vacherot will take on No. 5 Ritschard followed by No. 4 Yevseyev vs. Wu Yibing.
Qualifying starts at 11 a.m. and is free to attend. Court 3 matches will be broadcast on RadioTennis.com Sunday.
