Liguori: Donald Young Rallies To Win Another
By Ann Liguori
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Donald Young is the comeback kid in this year's U.S. Open. Well, at 26-years of age, Young isn't a kid anymore, although he still has that boyish look.
His game, physically and mentally, has definitely matured. He's the first to admit that.
"I'm trying to work on being a little more even-keeled," Young said. "But me not showing any emotion is not the best for me. I've tried that. It kind of bottles up, and then at some point explodes. So to let it out every once in a while and not in too-harsh or crazy ways, it's been something that I've been working on. I've been working on the mental part as well. It's definitely improving. It's not where I want it to be, but it's on the way, on the track I want it to be on."
And his come-from-behind, five-set win over 22 seed Victor Troicki this afternoon was his third straight comeback win of the championship. He got rid of Aljaz Bedene in a come-from-behind four setter in the second round and rallied from two sets down, to knock out the 11th seed Gilles Simon in five sets in the first round.
Against Troicki in his third round match-up, Young, after dropping the first two sets, was treated for back issues. He then took the 3rd set in a tie-breaker, grabbed the 4th set 6-2 and dazzled in the 5th, 6-4. The match lasted 3 hours and 33 minutes and Young looked as fresh as a daisy, returning serve beautifully, chasing down everything and smacking winners to the delight of the Grandstand crowd.
"Right now obviously I'm slightly tired," Young said after the match. "But I have a day off, just mixed doubles tomorrow. Hopped in the ice bath. The legs are feeling pretty good already. I'm looking forward to going out there and battling again. I'm sure it's going to be a battle. Every match is going to be one. I'm happy to be able to push forward. This is what you put the hours in the gym for."
Young advanced to the Round of 16 for only the second time in his 11 appearance here, the last time being the 1st time since 2011.
Young was a junior prodigy, winning Wimbledon when he was 17-years- old. But he has yet to live up to expectations, and has yet to win an ATP title.
Young will next face 5th seed Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round. Wawrinka beat Ruben Bemelmans in straight sets to get there. Wawrinka won decisively but didn't look 100 per cent. Maybe Donald Young will catch the 2-time Grand Slam winner on an off night and continue his charge here. One things for certain, he'll play his heart out and try.