Donald Young became just the latest American to advance to the Round of 16 at the 2011 US Open with a victory over 24th-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela in straight sets at the Grand Stands in Flushing Meadows on Sunday, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.
The 22-year-old lefty from Chicago asserted himself as the next great hope for American tennis by making quick work of his elder Argentine competitor. Young checks in as the third native to reach the fourth round of the US Open, joining 29-year-old upstart Mardy Fish, who dispatched of South African Kevin Anderson without dropping a set, and perennial disappointment Andy Roddick, who also advanced in straight sets over Frenchman Julien Benneteau.
Those three will soon be joined by a fourth American, with 28th-seeded John Isner and Alex Bogomolov Jr. set to meet in a third-round match tonight at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Unlike the other two Americans who have already moved on, Young will still have to wait and see who his next competitor will be. He will face the winner of tonight's showdown between Feliciano Lopez, the 25th-seeded Spaniard, and Andy Murray, the fourth-seeded Briton.
Eight-seeded Fish and 21st-seeded Roddick, on the other hand, will have to face off in the fourth round against 11th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and fifth-seeded David Ferrer, respectively.
That leaves Young with arguably the easiest path to the semifinals of any American. The Frenchman Tsonga figures to give the hustling Fish fits with his powerful forehands, tremendous serves and athleticism at the net. Meanwhile, Roddick and his fragile ego will be put to the test against the Spaniard Ferrer, who is well regarded for being rather Fish-like in his ability to hang around in matches despite a lack of clear physical gifts.
Murray, with his counterpunching style, would likely be able to neutralize Young's power, though Murray may have some trouble edging Lopez, despite having dispatched him in straight sets in the past.
Either way, Young's continued survival and success at the US Open gives American tennis fans an even greater chance of seeing one of their own lift the hardware after an emotional final on September 11th.
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