ATP player who has beaten Alex de Minaur and Stefanos Tsitsipas gets into the US Open at the very last minute

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With the US Open officially starting today, the excitement surrounding this event is set to reach a crescendo.

After all, the biggest and best tennis stars will unite in New York, all vying for the same thing: ultimate glory.

Whether it be entry through qualifying or as the top seed, there is a unique feeling around Grand Slams that makes it feel like anything is possible. And, at the US Open in particular, unpredictable new victors are commonplace.

Emma Raducanu’s 2021 US Open title stands out as the most extraordinary, and it only feels like she has now settled after that impossible triumph.

Even lucky losers have technically earned their place in the main draw, and on the eve of this tournament, we have seen a key withdrawal which has afforded one ATP star a dream route into the event.

US Open suffers a last-minute withdrawal

This particular individual is certainly capable of causing an upset, especially considering the wins he has amassed across his career thus far.

Daniel Elahi Galán will not care how he got into the US Open, just that he is there. 

It comes at the expense of Laslo Djere, with the Serbian having had to pull out through injury.

Ironically enough, one of Galán’s greatest victories actually came in New York, where he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas back in 2022, even bagelling him one set.

Another of his most famous triumphs came against Alex De Minaur in Miami the previous year.

The Colombian’s form has been spotty in the seasons since, but this should prove that his presence in the US Open draw could cause difficulty if he is on form.

What other big names have come through US Open qualifying?

16 men came through US Open qualifying, many of whom will be recognisable names to most tennis fans.

The big-serving German Jan-Lennard Struff is likely chief among them, whilst the more shrewd supporter might remember the name Dino Prižmić for pushing Novak Djokovic hard at last year’s Australian Open.

Lloyd Harris, Jesper De Jong and Ugo Blanchet make up the other key names, with Brit Billy Harris another who gains his place in the US Open as a lucky loser.