Blanch prevails in dramatic three-set battle
On the hard courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Darwin Blanch came through against Keaton Hance in the semifinal of the 2026 US Open Qualifying Wildcard Playoff. The final score of 6-3, 1-6, 10-7 reflected a match that remained wide open deep into the third set, ultimately requiring a match tiebreak to settle.
The playoff itself was a new addition to the calendar: in a single-day format, four young American talents competed for a wildcard into the qualifying draw. Blanch and Hance, aged just 18 and 17 respectively, faced off in the semifinal — an all-American contest between two rising players who could hardly be more different in style.
First set goes convincingly to Blanch
Darwin Blanch controlled the opening set from the baseline, giving Hance little opportunity to settle. The left-hander from Boca Raton, who trains under Juan Ignacio Chela, converted his break points efficiently and dropped just three games. His error count was minimal: only two unforced errors and two double faults on his side of the ledger.
Hance, who plays for the University of Texas and is coached by his father Ken Hance, found no answer to his opponent's precise baseline hitting in the opening set. The California native looked constrained throughout and was unable to make his return game count.
Hance hits back — match tiebreak decides it
The second set belonged firmly to Keaton Hance. A dominant 6-1 scoreline saw the 2026 Australian Open boys' singles finalist level the match and demonstrate exactly the quality he is capable of. Hance commanded proceedings with his serve and repelled break points with conviction — his overall break point saving rate for the match stood at 75 percent. He also won 75 percent of points on his first serve and held serve in 88 percent of his service games.
The match tiebreak to ten proved to be a nerve-shredding affair. Both players traded points relentlessly, but in the end Darwin Blanch held his nerve to close it out 10-7, securing his place in the playoff final. Blanch won 51 percent of total points across the match — a razor-thin margin that perfectly captures just how closely contested it was.
Two talents with bright futures ahead
Blanch had already made a name for himself as the 2025 Kalamazoo 18s champion and had additionally been awarded a wildcard into the 2026 US Open main draw. His victory over Hance only reinforced that standing. Hance, who claimed the boys' doubles title at the 2025 US Open alongside Jack Kennedy, bowed out despite a strong second set showing. For both players, the Qualifying Wildcard Playoff represents yet another stepping stone on the road to the top of the game.
