Former Buckeyes cruise to US Open semifinals

Robert Cash and JJ Tracy made headlines with their run to the US Open quarterfinals this week. The 2024 NCAA doubles champions from Ohio State are making an impressive transition to the pro level, and they are only getting better. They have captured the attention of the tennis world and the New York crowd, and they’re winning in the process.

The last Americans left in the doubles draw, New York fans are starting to attend their matches. Usually on smaller courts with packed-in crowds, doubles matches can get raucous. Their quarterfinal match actually was placed on the show court of Stadium 17, which meant a lot of empty seats–but still a tremendous atmosphere.

The quarterfinal match wasn’t particularly interesting or compelling, either. Cash and Tracy, unseeded and each ranked outside the top 50, dominated their 15th-seeded opponents. Cash and Tracy broke the serve of the French pair of Fabien Reboul and Sadio Doumbia three times in the first set to cruise to a 6-1 win. The second set was closer on the scoreboard, but the former Buckeyes were never threatened on serve until the end of the set. Tracy had to save three break points at 4-4, and then the pair won a hard-fought tiebreak a few games later for a 6-1 7-6(7) victory.

Next up for the Americans is the seasoned doubles team of Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers. Zeballos and Granollers have been playing together for over six years now, and are in their 12th Major semifinal together. The pair won the French Open and reached the Wimbledon semifinals this summer. The former Buckeyes will need to be at their absolute best to win that match, but they’ve already taken out three seeded teams this tournament so it’s definitely possible. The match will be the last of the day on Louis Armstrong Stadium on Thursday. (If any Buckeye fans live in the New York area, admission for the day session on Thursday is free as there are no main draw singles matches.)

On Monday, the US Open website republished a profile of Cash from the ATP. He wrote about how he was planning to retire from tennis after college. He was planning on attending medical school and becoming a doctor. But winning the NCAA Championship inspired him to give professional doubles at least a chance. That chance is paying off this week, in spades. Reaching a Major semifinal in their first pro year on tour means that Cash and Tracy will probably be sticking around for a while. And, if Cash does decide he wants to go to medical school eventually, the $125,000 check each player will receive as semifinalist prize money will give him a very nice start there.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Former Ohio State Buckeye tennis players cruise to US Open semifinals