(August 30, 2026) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Fresh off his win earlier this month at the USTA Boys’ 18 National Championships, 18-year-old Jack Kennedy earned his first taste of the main draw at a major on Sunday when he lost in the first round of the US Open to Lloyd Harris of South Africa, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, on Court 12. Winning the USTA Boys’ Nationals in Kalamazoo, Michigan earned him a wild card into the US Open main draw.
“Yeah, it was great,” said the Long Islander of his first main draw match at the US Open. “It was, you know, a dream come true.” He spent many years growing up visiting the US Open.
“I think it definitely hit (me) right after, maybe right after the warm-up, walking back into the locker room and, you know, walking out to the court,” he said. “The butterflies hit a little bit more in the stomach. When those were happening. So, yeah, I think those were the moments, but in the match, obviously, it was kind of tough to think about, just trying to go point by point with it.”
“Not the result we wanted, but, you know, just kind of happy to be out there competing.”
Kennedy had previously competed in the qualifying tournament in 2024 and 2025, failing to reach the main draw.
“Stakes are a little higher,” he said. “A little bit more pressure (today) than the past 2 years, but at the same time, I kind of felt also similar to, you know, those experiences, um, you know, probably on the same court last year in the qualifying.”
“Definitely had a little bit of similarities and differences, but, um, you know, it was just, you know, great to be out there.”
As for challenges playing Harris, a former quarterfinalist, coming in as a qualifier, Kennedy explained lessons learned: “I mean, obviously he did a really good job serving. He mixed them up a lot, and, you know, he was very accurate with the serves, and he was kind of putting them on the line. So it’s tough for me to kind of get a read on it, get a feel for his, you know, serve. That made chances to put returns in, but, he did just a great job, trying to just counterpunching, and, you know, I think I could have done a better job, kind of neutralizing you know, some points here and there, but, um, I mean, you know, credit to him with how he played and, you know, kind of his game plan going into it.”
“Obviously, the nerves were gonna be there, playing my first main draw match here at the US Open is definitely nerve-wracking, but you know, I was just more excited than anything to kind of get out there to compete in front of family and friends, and, the crowd definitely was, you know, awesome. And just something I always dreamed of having.”
“It was just really special to have that.”
Kennedy from Huntington, Long Island, talked about the great crowd support he received: “They were unbelievable.”
“I tried to get them into it as much as I could, but you know they were great.”
“It was really just a dream come true.”
“I definitely caught some familiar faces when I looked around, but, it’s tough in the moment to kind of, see and pick and choose who’s out there, but it was great. I remember. I mean, I saw a lot of people that (you) haven’t seen in years. And it’s really cool for them to all come together and be here with this match.”
“There’s a lot of positives, and I think a lot of things to, you know, look forward to working on. You know, I think I did a good job kind of. You know, from the baseline, kind of just hanging in there with the guy I could have done maybe a better job, kind of extending the rallies a bit more, maybe move the ball around. But, um, you know, I think also just kind of have to, you know, get more experience with, you know, the guys obviously serving like that and, you know, have to, you know, maybe do a better job here and there of, you know, taking care of my serve. Um, and, you know, I think I’ll ultimately it’s gonna come down to the physicality level. So, uh, you know, kind of get back into the gym, get stronger, get, you know, quicker and kind of take it from there.”
Kennedy has had some successes in the early stages of his pro career, playing in Vero Beach, reaching the doubles finals for his first pro trophy, winning a Challenger tournament in Boca Raton, and reaching a singles final in Savannah. But the big highlight from the Savannah tournament came when he beat Kei Nishikori in the second round.
“Yeah, I mean, that was one of the most memorable things that has happened in my career so far,” Kennedy said the currently ranked No.394 Kennedy. “It was really crazy just to even step on the court with him and share the court with him. I mean, I’ve been watching that guy. When he made the finals here in 2014, against Marin Čilić. So, I mean, to win against him, but also just even step on the court with him was really special.”
Kennedy, who won the Junior Boys’ doubles at the US Open last year with Keaton Hance, will be playing singles and doubles again this year to end his junior career before starting college at the University of Virginia in January.
“Defending last year’s title,” he said.
As for the challenge of transitioning from playing the Juniors to playing in college and the pros: “No, it’s definitely a big change with the physicality, and you know these guys are a lot older than me and have more experience as well here. I mean, he’s been playing on the pro circuit and just played in the open many, many years. So, you know, he definitely has the experience playing on those big stages against crowds that maybe aren’t for him, but. You know, I think, you know, all in all, it’s just a good learning experience for me to kind of be out there. You know, compete with this guy that’s been, you know, top 50 in the world previously, so. You know, I think, you know, obviously it’s tough to see it right now, but I’m sure there’s a lot of positives to take away.”
