Tomás Etcheverry reaches US Open third round after another convincing win

Tomás Etcheverry overcame rain, a strong British fightback and a difficult recent stretch to reach the US Open third round.

The 27th seed defeated Jacob Fearnley, ranked 101st and arriving from qualifying, 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in 3 hours and 18 minutes. Etcheverry controlled the match before rain stopped play with the Argentine leading 6-3, 5-3.

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The truth is, at the end I was scared, haha.

After nearly an hour away from the court, Etcheverry closed out the second set. Fearnley then lifted his level, won the third set and broke early in the fourth. The Argentine immediately recovered the break and won five straight games to regain control.

Etcheverry entered the tournament under pressure after first-round defeats in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati. He had also been left out of Argentina captain Javier Frana’s squad for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Turkey in Neuquén.

He finished with 31 winners and 41 unforced errors. Fearnley hit 33 winners but made 57 unforced errors. Etcheverry converted seven of 18 break points and won 73% of points behind his first serve.

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It was a great match, which I had fairly well under control. But after the rain stopped it, he came back at a very high level, and I had to match him, so it started to get complicated.

After the match, Etcheverry said he felt nervous when the contest became complicated after the rain delay. “The truth is, at the end I was scared, haha,” he told ESPN on court. He said he had controlled the match before Fearnley returned at a very high level, but managed to recover in an intense fourth set.

The result marks Etcheverry’s sixth appearance in the third round of a Grand Slam and his second at the US Open. He also reached this stage in New York in 2024.

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You have to enjoy and value what you do. I am the first to realize that I am privileged to be here, so I have to give my best.