The Story of Tennis Player Sebastian Gorzny (22): From Near Death to Sensational US Open Upset

Gorzny is already the tournament's sensation, despite having played only one match. Rarely has a Grand Slam seen such a low-ranked player defeat a top-40 opponent. Gorzny achieved this feat on Monday evening, overcoming Belgium's Raphael Collignon, ranked 38th in the world. Gorzny himself entered the US Open on a wildcard, with a dizzyingly low ranking of 731. Yet, he now advances to the second round to face world-class player Daniil Medvedev.

Gorzny, who primarily plays college-level tennis in America, is no stranger to a fight. His battles on the court pale in comparison to his struggle against death. Seven years ago, a mosquito bite left him teetering on the brink, with doctors giving him only a five percent chance of survival. An adverse reaction from his body turned the normally harmless insect bite into a life-threatening illness. He developed severe meningitis and spent four days in a coma. Breathing difficulties and epileptic seizures contributed to fears for the then 15-year-old Gorzny's premature death. After a long rehabilitation process, he eventually returned to the court. And what a return it has been.

His survival of five match points against Collignon perfectly fits this narrative. The match itself was stretched over two days due to rain delays. After the grueling four-hour encounter, Gorzny now prepares for his next challenge: against seventh seed Medvedev. Undoubtedly, he'll be cheered on by his classmates, just as he was against Collignon. They also witnessed Gorzny adapting to the rules of the professional circuit. For instance, he initially wanted to continue playing after a serve touched the net cord and landed in, a common practice in college tennis in the United States. However, in a Grand Slam, such a point must simply be replayed.

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