UPDATE: Upper West Sider Advances To Semifinals in Mixed Doubles at the U.S. Open

UPDATE: Tuesday, September 3 at 9 a.m.: Upper West Sider Aleksandar Kovacevich and his partner, Tyra Grant, are into the semifinals of the US Open’s mixed doubles competition, after their quarterfinal opponents withdrew before the match on Monday.

Kovacevich, who went to Beacon High School, and Grant will now go up against Italians Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani in a battle for a spot in the finals. Errani will be the highest profile opponent thus far, as she is the former No. 1 ranked women’s player in the world, and recently won the Gold Medal in doubles at the Paris Olympics.

The semifinal match will begin at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, and you can watch it on the ESPN app.

Original Story

By Tracy Zwick

Aleksandar Kovacevich, of West 97th Street, along with his U.S. Open mixed doubles partner, Tyra Grant, came from a set down on Saturday to beat fellow Americans Alycia Parks and Jackson Withrow in a tight match tiebreak, 4-6, 6-3, 11-9. They will advance to the quarterfinals, which begin Monday.

After making his U.S. Open debut on the primetime stage of Louis Armstrong Stadium last week in a singles loss against American powerhouse Francis Tiafoe, Aleks teamed up with 16-year-old Grant, whom he met for the first time the day of their Round 1 mixed doubles match last Wednesday. In that first round clash they defeated Americans Learner Tien and Clervie Ngounoue, 6-3, 6-4. The Rag has been following Kovacevic’s U.S. Open journey in singles and mixed doubles.

In perfect weather conditions Saturday on Court 11, which seats nearly 2,000 but feels intimate and convivial, Kovacevic and Grant were forced to defend early against withering serving from the #26 male doubles player in the world, Withrow, and the #63 female doubles player, Parks. Kovacevic, currently ranked #76 in singles, and Grant, a junior girl’s doubles champion, turned the tables in the second set, winning more on their second serves and taking almost 50% of their receiving points. They exploited openings between Withrow and Parks with key passing shots and lethal volleys, pushing the match to a first-to-ten tiebreaker.

Kovacevic-Grant raced out of the gate, taking a fast lead in the breaker, 3-0. But after tying things at 8 apiece, Parks-Withrow stepped in front at 9-8. Kovacevic responded with a huge ace, pulling even before pulling away, 11-9, and closing the match.

Kovacevic’s mom, Millie, who was courtside along with his father, Milan, was especially delighted given that Aleks hasn’t played doubles “for probably 20 years!” she said. This non-specialist is going to have to put off traveling to China, where he’ll head after the U.S. Open for the Asia swing of the ATP tour, for at least a few more days. His quarterfinal match is scheduled for late afternoon on Monday in Stadium 17.