On a small, outer court at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center on Friday morning, in front of a small crowd that included a handful of Swiss, a triumph of determination was achieved: Patty Schnyder qualified for the United States Open.
She did it by beating Jessica Pegula in straight sets, winning her third qualifying match of the week and giving her entry into the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in more than seven years.
“It’s a really good feeling to be playing on this stage after all the hard work,” Schnyder said.