News: Irish Davis Cup player Peter Clarke stands on the brink of becoming the first Irish player to compete in the main draw of a Grand Slam event since the early 1980s after coming through his second qualification match for the US Open in New York.
Clarke, ranked 329th in the world, hopes to emulate Matt Doyle, who made the last 16 at the 1982 US Open before losing to John McEnroe.
The Dublin-born 24-year-old, who grew up in Australia, won his first match at Flushing Meadows when he beat Cristiano Caratti of Italy in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Clarke racked up an unofficial count of 15 aces, including four straight in one game in the second set.
Not expected to beat American Kevin Kim of the US, who made the second round of the main draw in 2000 and is ranked 248 in the world, Clarke again surprised, in savage heat, to sweep aside the Californian in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 late in the day.
Clarke now plays Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round for a place in the main draw of the competition.
