Loeb Hangs on to Push Into Final Round of U.S. Open Qualifying

New Yorker Jamie Loeb powered her way into the final round of U.S. Open qualifiers with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over 18th-seeded Belgian Ysaline Bonaventure on Thursday.

Loeb would break early for a 2-1 lead in the opening set, only to see Bonaventure respond with a break right back. But Loeb would begin pulling away from there. After edging out the first set, the former NCAA Division I Singles Champion won the first five games of the second set. Bonaventure would make things difficult for Loeb from there, though, as she got two breaks back and rattled off four straight games to trim the deficit to 4-5.

But Loeb dug deep to serve out the set and the match in the ensuing game, pushing through with the straight-sets win.

Loeb takes on the winner of the match between 16th-seeded Eugenie Bouchard and Ekaterine Gorgodze for a spot in the main draw.

American Nicole Gibbs held off a late charge from Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch to win 6-4, 7-6(6) and move within one win of her seventh straight U.S. Open main draw appearance.

Gibbs fought back from 1-4 down in the second set tiebreaker, using a supportive crowd next to her on Court 12 to push through in straight sets.

For a spot in the main draw, Gibbs will square off against Belarusian Olga Govortsova, who notched a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback win over 21st-seeded Fiona Ferro of France.

Ninth-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia ousted American Kristie Ahn 6-1, 6-2, while former Ohio State star Francesca Di Lorenzo advanced to Friday with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Antonio Lottner.

Former world number two Vera Zvonareva knocked out Fanny Stollar of Hungary 7-5, 6-2. Zvonareva is seeking a spot in the main draw at a second consecutive Grand Slam after not having played in a major since the 2015 Australian Open.

American Jessica Pegula, who received a Wild Card into qualifying, is now within one match of the main draw after downing Austrian Arina Rodionova 6-3, 6-1. Pegula plays Patty Schnyder of Switzerland next.

American Nicole Gibbs held off a late charge from Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch to win 6-4, 7-6(6) and move within one win of her seventh straight U.S. Open main draw appearance