At this year’s BNP Paribas Masters at Indian Wells, American hopefuls Kayla Day and Taylor Fritz energized the crowd with spirited play and dreams of a forthcoming renaissance for Team USA Tennis. This week, the USTA announced that both will return to the big stage in New York for the 2017 US Open.
The USTA has announced its Qualifier draws as the eyes of the tennis world turn to Flushing Meadows this month, and Southern California is represented by Day, Fritz, and a host of talented athletes poised to make a splash at the year’s final Grand Slam event.
Day highlights the Women’s Qualifier draw. The 17-year old from Santa Barbara, currently ranked #123 in the world, was the 2016 US Open Girls’ titlist and reached the third round of this year’s BNP Paribas at Indian Wells. Day was the Girls’ 18s National champion one year ago, and this year’s champion Ashley Kratzer (Newport Beach) also receives a berth in this year’s qualifier. Kratzer and fellow Nationals finalist Kelly Chen (Cerritos) will both look to continue recent success when they arrive in New York.
Reigning Girls’ Wimbledon champion and world Junior #1 Claire Liu (Thousand Oaks) is slated for the qualifier as well. Despite a surprising exit at Nationals last week, Liu captured the doubles title on Sunday.
Other qualifiers include Sofia Kenin, Taylor Townsend, and former US champion Maria Sharapova.
On the Mens’ side, former US Open Junior champ Fritz (Rancho Santa Fe) returns to the spotlight after a lengthy training break. Ranked as high as #53 on tour, Fritz has slipped just outside the top 100 but hopes to use the nation’s biggest stage to charge back up the rankings.
A UCLA singles champion in 2014, Marcos Giron (Thousand Oaks) also received a qualifier berth. Giron has reached two finals this summer, including an ITF win in China. Former Stanford NCAA singles champion Bradley Klahn (Poway) and USC All-American Raymond Sarmiento (Fontana), along with four time NCAA team champion Daniel Nguyen (Long Beach), are also in the draw.
The Qualifying rounds begin August 22 at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.