GB's Dart and Jones advance in US Open qualifying

Britons Harriet Dart and Fran Jones each opened their US Open qualifying campaigns with victories. Dart, who has twice reached the second round of the tournament, overcame Jordyn Hazelitt 6‑0 6‑7(1‑7) 6‑1 in the opening round at Flushing Meadows. She will next meet American 16‑year‑old Kristina Penickova. Jones, who earned her first US Open main‑draw berth last year, disposed of Italy’s Nuria Brancaccio 6‑3 6‑4 and is set to face Germany’s Mona Barthel in the following round. Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Jodie Burrage fell to Spain’s Guiomar Maristany 7‑6(7‑1) 6‑4. On the men’s side, Henry Searle was defeated 6‑1 6‑2 by 16‑year‑old American Michael Antonius. Antonius will now play former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori after Nishikori’s 6‑1 2‑6 6‑2 victory over Austria’s Sebastian Ofner. Former US Open semi‑finalist Grigor Dimitrov advanced to a second‑round clash with Kazakhstan’s Timofey Skatov after beating Italy’s Lorenzo Giustino 6‑0 6‑3. In the women’s competition, 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu moved forward with a 6‑1 6‑2 win over Dutch player Eva Vedder. Heather Watson will resume her qualifying effort on Wednesday against Spain’s Angela Fita Boluda in a second‑round match. The British men’s contingent—Jacob Fearnley, Toby Samuel, Billy Harris, Harry Wendelken and Jack Pinnington Jones—each aim to secure a single victory that would place them one win from the main draw. All players must negotiate three qualifying rounds to earn a place in the singles main draw, which gets under way on Sunday.