Kennedy, 16, reflecting on his practice with van de Zandschulp, expressed excitement over the opportunity, calling his experience at the U.S. Open 'unreal.' He mentioned, 'Just to play in front of that crowd - I've never experienced anything like that.' Though he lost in the qualifiers, he gained valuable insight from competing against a higher-ranked player and stated, 'I can hang in with that guy.' This represents a significant moment in his developing career.
Kennedy entered the U.S. Open qualifiers by virtue of his recent success at the USTA Boys 18s National Championships, where he reached the finals. His participation in international tournaments like the French Open and Wimbledon laid the groundwork for his current ranking as 32nd in the world. Despite losing in his debut, he took away confidence from his match against experienced player Maximilian Marterer, reflecting a strong mindset for future competitions.
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