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ATP World Tour: Jared Donaldson secures yet another Top 20 upset

By Maxwell Ogden

MONTREAL, QC - AUGUST 08: Jared Donaldson of the United States wipes himself down against Benoit Paire of France during day five of the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank at Uniprix Stadium on August 8, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - AUGUST 08: Jared Donaldson of the United States wipes himself down against Benoit Paire of France during day five of the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank at Uniprix Stadium on August 8, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Jared Donaldson has been in strong form in the weeks leading up to the 2017 US Open. He secured yet another big upset at the Western & Southern Open.

2017 has been an excellent year for the American players on the ATP World Tour. Sam Querrey ended the United States of America’s Grand Slam semifinal drought, Jack Sock is flirting with a Top 15 ranking, and John Isner rounds out the trio of recently branded Top 20 players.

As Isner, Querrey, and Sock provide the stepping stones, 20-year-old Jared Donaldson is looking to take the baton and run with it.

Donaldson isn’t a household name, but he’s making significant strides towards becoming the new face of American men’s tennis. He’s the highest-rated American player on the ATP Next Gen rankings, and has made waves throughout 2017.

That momentum continued at the 2017 Western & Southern Open, when Donaldson secured his second win over a Top 20 player in as many weeks.

Expectations will still be realistic for Donaldson at the 2017 US Open, but he’s gaining a full head of steam.

Donaldson made waves at the 2017 Rogers Cup by defeating Lucas Pouille, who’s ranked No. 18 in the world, in straight sets: 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (10-8). It was a hard-fought victory that was followed by a 6-2, 7-5 win over Benoit Paire, who’s ranked No. 41.

In the Round of 64 at the Western & Southern Open, Donaldson built upon that success with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win over Roberto Bautista Agut.

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Bautista Agut is the No. 14 ranked player in the world, which further establishes just how much of a threat Donaldson has become.

Donaldson’s recent momentum began when he reached the third around at Wimbledon. He upset Janko Tipsarevic and Paolo Lorenzi, and put forth an admirable effort during his Round 3 loss to Top 10 player Dominic Thiem.

Now ranked No. 60 in the world, Donaldson has an outside shot at cracking the Top 50 before the 2017 US Open.

Must Read: Three Americans have cracked the Top 20 on the ATP World Tour

A resurgent year for American men’s tennis is continuing with the improving play of 20-year-old phenom Jared Donaldson.

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