Donald Young, Shelby Rogers contribute to strong American showing

NEW YORK — It’s only Day Four of the U.S. Open, but for now, American players are giving their countrymen good reason to cheer.

A total of nine U.S. players made it through to the third round in Flushing Meadows, and Thursday saw a slew of more under-the-radar Americans join the likes of Serena and Venus Williams, who advanced to the third round after winning Wednesday.

Donald Young,  the 26-year-old who’s shown promise for years but has yet to win a title on tour, took four sets to defeat Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene. Qualifier Shelby Rogers, 22, beat Japan’s Kurumi Nara in straight sets to reach the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

“It’s always special here playing as an American. The crowd gets behind you,” Rogers said. “There was a guy wearing American flag pants, the bandana. It’s always fun to see the fans come out and kind of have a little pride for playing for your country.

The 154th-ranked Rogers has world No. 2 Simona Halep up next.

“I’m really excited, I just hope I bring my A-game,” Rogers said. “I’m going to fight like crap to win every point. Just enjoy the experience, you know.”

John Isner is the only other American man to have made it to the third round; Jack Sock retired in the fourth set of his Thursday match after collapsing on court. The young American won the first two sets against Germany’s Ruben Bemelmans before walking off the court with assistance.

The women fared better, sending Varvara Lepchenko, Madison Keys, Madison Brengle and Bethanie Mattek-Sands through. Mattek-Sands defeated another American, Coco Vandeweghe, in a fiery second-round match and now faces Serena Williams on Arthur Ashe on Friday night.

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