Ernesto Escobedo fights his way into the spotlight

Seven of the final 16 competitors at the 2014 USTA Boys’ 18 National Championships in Kalamazoo were in the same place at the beginning of this week—the main draw of the Australian Open.

Many of those names—such as Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Reilly Opelka—have been labeled the future of American men’s tennis for some time now. Yet Ernesto Escobedo, who made the quarterfinals in Kalamazoo that year, has flown well under the radar.

But the California resident is making it hard for it to stay that way, as only he and Tiafoe of that group are still alive in the year’s first Grand Slam. On Tuesday, the No. 131-ranked Escobedo beat fellow 20-year-old and world No. 63 Danill Medvedev after fighting through three qualifying matches last week.

The 7-5 4-6 7-6(5) 6-1 win marks Escobedo's second Grand Slam win in as many major main draw apperances, and sets up a showdown with No. 21 seed David Ferrer on Thursday.

Should Escobedo be more prominently in the conversation with the rest of the up-and-coming Americans? The 6'1" right-hander certainly has the firepower to belong, and slowly but surely, the results.

Escobedo made his US Open main draw debut last year thanks to a wildcard (which he earned by winning the USTA Pro Circuit US Open Wild Card Challenge). He beat Lukas Lacko after the Slovakian retired in the fourth set, before falling to Kyle Edmund.

Escobedo picked up tennis as a child even though his father, Ernesto Escobedo Jr. wasn't sure it was the right decision. Escobedo Jr. dreamed of being a pro himself, but struggled (reaching No. 727  in doubles). Eventually, his son's desire to play not just changed Escobedo Jr.'s mind, but also led him to help coach the youngster (Peter Lucassen, who also coaches Fritz, has since stepped in).

"My plan was for him to go to college, but he said he wanted to see if he could make it in the pros," Escobedo's father told *ESPN*. "He told me, 'A lot of players don't have this opportunity. I don't want to be regretting this for the rest of my life.'"

He hasn't got any reason for regrets. Last season, Escobedo won his first ATP Challenger title in Lexington and then his second in Monterrey, jumping more than 250 spots in the rankings by year's end.

On Thursday, it'll be a tough task for Escobedo to upset Ferrer, one of the best defenders in the game. But one thing is for sure, even if he goes down, the American is going to leave Australia with a bigger spotlight.