Israeli Glushko into US Open main draw once more

The 23-year-old Israeli beat Anastasia Rodionova to set up a prestigious meeting against world No. 22 Petrova.

By ALLON SINAI
Julia Glushko tennis 370 (photo credit: Julia Glushko’s Facebook page)
Julia Glushko tennis 370
(photo credit: Julia Glushko’s Facebook page)
Julia Glushko will face Nadia Petrova in the first round of the US Open after qualifying for the main draw of the New York Grand Slam for a second straight year on Friday night.
The 23-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 128 in the world, beat Anastasia Rodionova (119) 6-3, 6-2 to set up a prestigious meeting against world No. 22 Petrova, a former world No. 3.
However, Petrova has struggled all year, losing in the first round in her past four tournaments, as well as the opening round of all three Grand Slams in 2013.
“I played really well after trailing 3-1 in the first set,” said Glushko, who won nine straight games at one stage. “I didn’t give her anything. I’m really pleased with how I played, but as far as I’m concerned the tournament only starts now.”
Amir Weintraub failed to join Dudi Sela in the men’s main draw, falling in the third and final qualifying round on Friday.
Weintraub (187) was hoping to reach his second Grand Slam main draw, but dropped to a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Maximo Gonzalez (254).
Meanwhile, US Open champion Andy Murray faces the mouthwatering prospect of meeting top seed Novak Djokovic in this year’s semifinals in New York.
Murray, who is also the Wimbledon champion, landed in the top half of the draw for the Aug. 26-Sept. 9 tournament in New York while second seed Rafa Nadal and five-times US Open champion Roger Federer were placed in the bottom half.
Scotsman Murray, who beat Serb Djokovic in an epic five-set final to claim last year’s title at Flushing Meadows, was elated to be back at a venue where he has enjoyed considerable success.
“This is a huge tournament for me,” Murray, 26, said after the official draw ceremony was completed at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“I came here for the first time when I was 15. I got to my first Grand Slam final here, my first Grand Slam win here and I won the juniors here when I was 17 so I love coming back.”
Murray will take on Frenchman Michael Llodra in the opening round while Djokovic launches his title bid against Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis.
Seventh seed Federer has been placed outside the top three for the first time in more than a decade at a Grand Slam and is drawn to meet inform Nadal in the quarterfinals.
However, the Spaniard could face a tricky opponent in the previous round where he is scheduled to meet big-serving American John Isner, who Nadal beat in the final of the Western and Southern Open last week.
In other likely quarterfinals, fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer is set to meet Frenchman Richard Gasquet, Djokovic could face sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina and Murray is on course to play fifth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych.
In the women’s singles draw, world No. 1 and defending champion Serena Williams is set to come up against Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the last eight but she has two other intriguing opponents potentially lying in wait.
Top seed Williams is scheduled to face fellow American Sloane Stephens in the fourth round, the player who stunningly beat her in this year’s Australian Open quarterfinals.
Reuters contributed to this report