With all the drama of the Cincinnati Open focus out of the way, attention can now turn to the Winston-Salem Open (no, not the US Open Mixed Doubles).
The ATP Tour 250 event boasts a number of well-known names, including Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard, Gabriel Diallo and British star Jacob Fearnley.
However, one player in particular has stunned the field by winning his first ATP Tour match.
This player, aged only 17 years, has shocked former Cincinnati Open Masters 1000 champion: Borna Coric.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
This young American star has a bright future, considering his achievements so far this week.
Darwin Blanch defeats Borna Coric at the Winston-Salem Open
Teenager Darwin Blanch has rocked the Winston-Salem Open by advancing to the second round, and picking up his first ATP Tour level victory in the process.
The young star defeated 2022 Cincinnati Open champion Borna Coric 6-4 7-5 in the Winston-Salem Open first round. Coric remains the lowest ranked player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title: he was ranked 152 in the world.
Before defeating Coric, the American had navigated his way through two rounds of qualifying, defeating compatriot Tristan Boyer and France’s Valentin Royer.
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Success has been on the cards for young Blanch. When the youngster was aged just 14 years and five months in February 2022 he became the second youngest player to win an ATP ranking point by defeating Gerald Planelles in three sets at an ITF tournament in Vilhena, Spain.
Most recently, Blanch won the United States Tennis Association [USTA] National Boy’s 18s Championships. The result won young Blanch a wildcard spot for the upcoming US Open tournament.
Blanch, ranked 409 in the world, trains at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy in Alicante, Spain, and has trained with Carlos Alcaraz at the academy.
The youngster will know that his work is far from complete in Winston-Salem, as he faces another tough test in the second round.
Blanch faces eighth seed Alexandre Muller, who won a set off Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon first round.
When will Darwin Blanch find out his US Open first-round opponent?
Darwin Blanch will make his Grand Slam debut at the US Open, and he will find out his first-round opponent in the coming days.
Currently, US Open qualifying rounds are taking place in New York. However, Blanch’s victory at the USTA tournament has earned him the right to skip this process altogether.
On Thursday, August 21, Darwin Blanch will find out who he faces in the US Open first round, when the draws for the men’s and women’s singles draws are announced.
Returning to Winston-Salem, if Blanch can defeat Alexandre Muller, he will face either ninth seed Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard or Spain’s Pedro Martinez.