Encouraging performance at US Open tastes like more for late bloomer Gijs Brouwer | Sport

By Rik Spekenbrink

For a moment, a repeat of last year seemed to occur at the US Open. Then the Americans practiced the name of Botic van de Zandschulp, the Dutchman who reached the quarterfinals of the grand slam as a qualifier. Gijs Brouwer followed the same path, but stranded earlier, in the second round. Lorenzo Musetti was too strong in four sets: 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. As a result, the ‘come on, Hijs’ slowly faded away on lane 10, because this name was also a challenge for the fans at Flushing Meadows.