The hunt for the quarterfinals is on, and we’re tracking the players making the biggest moves.
Austin’s Marko Mesarovic continued his campaign with a gritty main-draw first-round win, defeating lucky loser Oskar Brostrom Poulsen—who replaced No. 2 seed Gabi Adrian Boitan—in a hard-fought three-setter, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-1. He now faces fellow qualifier Andreja Petrovic of Norway for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Seeing Double
Brothers Micah and Jonah Braswell are one win away from a potential quarterfinal showdown. Micah, the 2022 champion and a Texas graduate, faces Australia’s Derek Pham, while his younger brother Jonah—currently a senior at Texas—takes on top seed Garrett Johns, who survived a three-set battle in his opening round.
Dropshot Spotlight: Aidan McHugh
Born on 9 July 2000, McHugh is a rising British talent steadily carving out his place on the professional circuit. The Bearsden native, who attended St Aloysius’ College in Glasgow, reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 298 in 2022. McHugh is managed by Andy Murray’s 77 Sports Management, joining a group of notable British players including Paul Jubb, Harriet Dart, Katie Swan, and Jack Pinnington Jones. On court, McHugh stands out for his one-handed backhand, which he often deploys with a tight, skidding slice to keep opponents off balance. He’s a natural at transitioning forward, showing comfort and commitment at the net—an increasingly rare skill in today’s baseline-heavy game. His movement is one of his biggest assets, allowing him to stay in rallies, defend smartly, and create attacking opportunities.