US Open qualifying matches suspended due to rain

Rain and thunderstorms have disrupted the final round of qualifying matches at the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Play was halted on Thursday afternoon, leaving several matches in progress suspended, including the third-round contest between Qinwen Zheng and Elena Pridankina.

Other players affected by the weather delays include Jacob Fearnley, Coleman Wong, Robin Montgomery, and Gabriela Knutson. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Queens and the Bronx, with forecasts indicating a 60% chance of thunderstorms and potential localized downpours.

The delays threaten to compress the qualifying schedule, which is intended to determine the final 16 men and 16 women for the main draw. If matches are not completed quickly, players may face reduced recovery time before the main tournament begins on Sunday. Forecasts suggest intermittent showers may continue through the week, potentially complicating the opening rounds of the main draw.