Rain has disrupted the final stage of US Open qualifying, with most of Thursday's deciding matches postponed to Friday as players continue their fight for a place in the main draw.
Only five players managed to secure their spots on Thursday, with former semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov among those advancing. Coleman Wong also booked his place after defeating experienced Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-3.
Dimitrov progressed without having to take the court after Finland's Otto Virtanen withdrew. The 35-year-old Bulgarian will now make his 15th US Open main-draw appearance. His best run at Flushing Meadows came in 2019, when he reached the semi-finals.
Wong, meanwhile, will return to the US Open main draw hoping to repeat the success of his breakthrough run last year. The 22-year-old reached the third round as a qualifier in 2025, which remains his best result at a Grand Slam tournament.
Toby Samuel, Tomas Barrios Vera and Andrea Guerrieri were the other three players to advance on Thursday.
The rain delay means 11 qualifying spots are still available, with the remaining final-round matches now scheduled for Friday. Among the players still fighting for a place in the main draw is Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori, who will face fellow Japanese player and #NextGenATP prospect Rei Sakamoto.
Nishikori will be hoping to return to the main draw at the tournament where he produced one of the biggest runs of his career. The former world No. 4 reached the US Open final in 2014, making Friday's clash particularly significant as he continues his comeback.
With the qualifying campaign now heading into its final day, the remaining players will have little time to recover before stepping back onto court. For those still chasing a main-draw place, Friday represents one final opportunity to earn their place at the final Grand Slam of the season.
