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In Zachary Svajda, U.S. Men See a Glimmer of Hope (Even in Defeat)

Demetrius Freeman for The New York Times

Court 5 at the United States Open overflowed with spectators on Monday, many standing on their tiptoes, craning their necks and waiting in lines at the small side court to get a glimpse of a teenager who holds some hope for the future of American men’s tennis.

Zachary Svajda is only 16, but until full-body cramps overtook him early in the third set against the veteran Paolo Lorenzi, he was the better player. Ultimately, Svajda could barely serve because of the cramping, and he was reduced to limping across the court.