Stefan Kozlov has been largely absent from the ATP World Tour for the last two years but this weekend his 389 ranking earned him entry into the Abierto Mexicano Telcel Acapulco qualies.
Just turned 23 years old, the once 115 ranked Kozlov defeated alternate Jordi Arconada 64 61 and then former top 40 Joao Sousa 62 26 63. If the Pembroke Pines, Florida based American can beat Botic Van de Zandschulp in the third round of qualies, he will launch into the main draw.
Kozlov, who has a new co-coach (along with his dad Andrei) in Rudy Diaz De Vivar, has only won five ATP World Tour matches in his career which began as a sixteen year old on the grass of Newport, Rhode Island. None of those five match wins have come on a hard court. Kozlov has an ATP record of 5-17.
These two wins by Kozlov could not have come at a better time as he lost in the second round of Delray Beach qualies to Donald Young in three sets and most recently in the Naples ITF $25,000 to Mitchell Krueger 46 03 retired.
Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, is 25 years old and ranked 149 and reached the QF of the Melbourne 250 earlier this year, losing to Karen Khachanov 67 75 63.
Acapulco · Babolat · Stefan Kozlov · The Koz
Scoop Malinowski · March 16, 2021 at 10:09 am
Kozlov beat Botic V and will now face Cam Norrie in the main draw but he’s 0-2 career vs Norrie, but those matches were in Miami qualies and a Futures in 2015.
Scoop Malinowski · March 17, 2021 at 6:53 pm
Norrie beat Koz 63 63. Good match, good progress. Work to do.