September 5, 2015, Queens, NY Don’t call it a comeback. It’s become par for the course. For the third consecutive match, Donald Young has come from behind, on the brink of elimination, to defeat a higher-ranked opponent. This time the victim was 22nd ranked Viktor Troicki from Serbia. Young was down two sets to win 4-6, 0-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4, in arguably his greatest victory.
He was down, but not out. And I mean down. “It was 90% you guys, and 10% me,” said an exhausted by jubilant Donald Young during the post-match interview. His back had tightened up, and he was bageled (shut out in the second set). But he fought like a champion and won the tiebreaker in the third set.
ESPN analyst Pam Shriver asked about his conditioning which has been an achilles in his performance. Young said, “I’ve been slaving in the gym. Killing it. Doing everything possible. It was a weak point for most of my career, and it was something that you have full control of so I wasn’t going to let that hold me back any more. Now I’m working but I’m not exactly where I want to be, but I’m moving in the right direction.”
Donald Young is not done. He earned the right to play on Labor Day. And is now guaranteed to pocket at least $213,575 for his troubles. (See prize money according to USOpen.org below.)
US Open Prize Pool Finish Winnings Winner: $3,300,000; Runner-Up $1,600,000; Semifinalists $805,000; Quarterfinalists $410,975; Round of 16 $213,575, Third Round $120,200; Second Round $68,600; First Round $39,500.
On Monday, Donald Young joins 13th seeded American, John Isner, who will be facing tennis’ greatest men’s player, Roger Federer, in the Round of 16. Young will play the winner of the Stan Wawrinka-Ruben Bemelmans match. Wawrinka is the 5th seed and winner of this year’s French Open.
It seems that when Donald Young is down, he’s up. But as the competition stiffens, the “Young Gun” might want to change that strategy.
Professor Clifford Benton can be reached via twitter @CliffordBenton.