2014 US Open Update: A Look at Latino Tennis Players Thriving As Field Dwindles
The 2014 U.S. Open singles tournament began with 128 individuals who are all starving for a chance to win it all.
As the field dwindles, we're seeing many Latin American born tennis players flourish under the bright lights.
The most successful Latino nation at this year's U.S. Open has been Colombia. Latin Post.com takes a look at the Latino tennis players still thriving in the tournament:
Singles
Argentina
Leonardo Mayer
Mayer is the highest-ranked Argentine player on the tour, so expectations are running high. After victories over Pablo Andujar and Albert Montanes, Mayer finds himself in a third round battle against Kei Nishikori. If Mayer can win, it would be his first time advancing to Round 4.
Federico Delbonis
This is Delbonis' first time advancing to the second round at the U.S. Open. In Round 1, he defeated Noah Rubin in straight sets. Delbonis will take on Giles Simon in the second round on Friday at 11 a.m. EST on Court 13.
Dominican Republic
Víctor Estrella Burgos
Burgos is in the same grouping as Mayer, meaning if he and Mayer both win their next match, they will face each other in Round 4. Incredibly, this is Burgos' first-ever appearance at the United States Open, and he's 34 years old. Not a bad way to debut. Canadian Milos Raonic will be his round three opponent.
Colombia
Alejandro González
After a surprisingly dominant performance against Dmitry Tursunov in Round 1, Alejandro González will be facing Gael Monfils in Round 2. Monfils is a heavy favorite in this match, but the U.S. Open has featured many upsets. The two will face off on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Grandstand in front of nearly 6,000 fans.
Doubles
With most of the attention being focused on the singles, there's a lot of great tennis being overlooked in the doubles tournament. Nothing says teamwork like a two-on-two competition. We haven't seen a Latin American pair win the U.S. Open doubles competition since 1962, when the Mexican duo of Rafael Osuna and Antonio Palafox won it all, but this year, Colombian-born tennis players are thriving like never before.
Columbia
Nicolás Barrientos - Colombia
Santiago Giraldo - Colombia
Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic will be facing Barrientos and Giraldo on Friday at Court 4 at 11 a.m. Neither Barrientos nor Giraldo have won any Grand Slam titles in singles or doubles, but their Round 1 victory was impressive.
Juan Sebastián Cabal - Colombia
Robert Farah Maksoud - Colombia
Cabal and Maksoud are a great combination. They are the highest-ranked Colombian duo in this year's tournament. They will take on the Polish pair of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski in Round 2 on Friday at 11 a.m. on Court 10.
Fans love pulling for the players who are from their country, but the U.S. Open features mixed doubles as well. Tennis is one of the most diverse sports in the world. Below, are the remaining Latin American born players in mixed doubles.
Argentina
Carlos Berlocq - Argentina
Leonardo Mayer - Argentina
Mayer isn't just competing in the singles, he's still alive in the doubles as well. Mayer is contending with fellow countryman Carlos Berlocq. In Round 2, they will face off against the French pairing of Nicolas Mahut and Michael Llodra.
Brazil
Bruno Soares - Brazil
Alexander Peya - Austria
Soares and Peya are the No. 2 ranked doubles pair this year only behind the Bryan brothers. In Round 2 they will take on the Australian couple of Sam Groth and Chris Guccione.
Marcelo Melo - Brazil
Ivan Dodig- Croatia
Melo and Dodig dodged a bullet in Round 1. If these two can win their second round match-up, there's a good chance they will face Maksoud and Cabal in the third round. Just last year, Melo made it to the semifinals.
André Sá - Brazil
Mate Pavić - Croatia
Pavić and Sá did a terrific job in Round 1, eliminating the American pair of Chase Buchanan and Tennys Sandgren. In Round 2, Pavić and Sá will face Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero, who are a great Spanish tag team.
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