Cincinnati Qualifying: French Players Go 4-for-4, Two Matches Delayed by Rain
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Key facts
Quentin Halys returns to the Cincinnati Open ten years after his only appearance, a first-round qualifying loss in 2016; he has yet to win a match there.
Yunchaokete Bu was ranked 75th in the world twelve months ago, but now sits at No. 118 despite a 7-3 record in his last ten matches.
In 2026, Yunchaokete Bu has a 0-1 record in ATP main draw matches, compared to 25-7 on lower-level events: a stark contrast between the two environments.
Their only meeting lasted 141 minutes and ended after Quentin Halys lost the first set, before winning the next two at the Rolex Paris Masters 2024.
This second round of qualifying pits Quentin Halys, the No. 2 seed and world No. 54, against Yunchaokete Bu, the No. 21 seed and No. 118. Halys is on a six-match winning streak, while Bu won his first match at the Cincinnati Open today. A win would bring them closer to the main draw.
On hard courts, Halys leads 1-0 in their head-to-head, thanks to his three-set win at the Rolex Paris Masters 2024. Both players have had no rest days after their opening matches, which could be a factor in a tight contest.
Serving will be a key indicator: Halys hit 18 aces against Soonwoo Kwon, compared to five for Bu against Francesco Maestrelli. The quality of first serves and tiebreak management could make the difference.
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Last meeting
Their last meeting was on October 27, 2024, at the Rolex Paris Masters in Paris, on hard court. Quentin Halys defeated Yunchaokete Bu in 141 minutes, 3-6 7-6 6-3. This is the only recorded match between the two, with Halys leading 1-0 in their head-to-head, also 1-0 on hard courts.
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