Under the Radar: Michael Llodra's Last Hurrah!

(Under the Radar features players ranked outside the top 100 who reaches the second round or deeper in any of the grand slams.)

Veteran French player Michael Llodra, currently ranked #193, reaches the second round of the 2014 US Open by defeating Daniel Gimeno Traver of Spain, currently ranked #101 in the world, 64 63 75.

This is the seventh time he reaches the second round and his best performance here was 10 years ago, when he reached the 4th round.

He will next meet Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, currently ranked #25, in the second round.

ATP Top Tennis Nations 2011: #2 France

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (#6) leads the ten French players in the Top 100 of 2011, making France, the second best tennis nation of 2011 in the ATP Tour.  Gilles Simon is at #12, Gael Monfils at #16, Richard Gasquet at #19, Michael Llodra at #47, Julien Benneteau at #52, Nicolas Mahut at #80, Adrian Mannarino at #87, Benoit Paire at #95 and Eric Prodon at #97.

Eleven other French players are currently stationed from #101 to #200, so the future of French men's tennis is alive and well!

Michael Llodra Having His Best Wimbledon Ever

Like Russia on the women's side, France also has a deep bench in its men's game - and it's Michael Llodra who completes the triumvirate of Tsonga and Gasquet, as the three Frenchmen into the fourth round of Wimbledon.  Llodra is a surprise fourth round entry as he is currently ranked #35 in the world.  He has had to win over Lu of Chinese Taipei (#57) in the third round, Ricardo Mello of Brazil (#89) in the second round and James Ward of Great Britain (#192) in the first round.  His next opponent is still being decided between Djokovic and Baghdatis, both very tough opponents.