New Zealand tennis player Michael Venus has qualified for the main draw of the US$100,000 Sacramento Challenger overnight.
In the first round of qualifying Venus defeated Colombian second seed, Alejandro Gonzalez 6-4, 6-2, followed by American Travis Rettenmaier 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. In the final round he beat German Simon Stadler 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour 55 minutes.
Venus now joins the likes of top-100 players James Blake and Ivo Karlovic as well as former Heineken Open finalist Sam Querrey in the main draw singles. Venus's first-round opponent is not yet known.
Fellow Kiwi Artem Sitak won his first round qualifying match in straight sets but was beaten by Australian Carsten Ball in the second round 6-0 6-3. Meanwhile, Marcus Daniell reached the final of the US$10,000 Futures in Mexico going down to Luis Diaz-Barriga (MEX) 6-4 3-6 6-3 on Sunday.
