The Claremont USTA Pro Classic will celebrate its 22^nd year, and once again will feature some of the rising stars in pro tennis.

The first of three consecutive $15,000 USTA Pro Circuit hard-court men’s events held in Southern California following the US Open, the Pro Classic is run by tournament director Barry Friedman and USTA Tour Supervisor Peter Kasavage.

Qualifying concludes on Monday, Sept. 11, with main draw singles and doubles matches starting on Tuesday. The doubles final is scheduled for Friday, the singles semifinals Saturday and the final on Sunday, Sept. 17.

The top-seeded player is Australian Chris O’Connell, who is ranked No. 306 in the ATP World Tour rankings. O’Connell grew up on the Northern beaches of Sydney and reached a career-high world ranking of No. 219 earlier this year. The 23-year-old has made close to $100,000 in prize money during his pro career.

Benjamin Lock of Zimbabwe will be the No. 2 seeded player. A member of the Zimbabwean Davis Cup team, Lock won his first ITF Pro Circuit singles title in Mozambique in 2015. In November 2014, Lock has won his first doubles title on ITF Men’s Circuit, playing alongside 2015 Claremont doubles champion Jean-Yves Aubone in Niceville, Fla.

Las Vegas resident Evan Song is 25-years-old and comes in as the No. 3 seed. Just ranked outside the world top 500, Song is a solid baseliner who has been active on the USTA Pro Circuit Futures stage the past several years. American Hunter Callahan comes in as the No. 6 seeded player. The Pennsylvania native played his college tennis for Ohio State. No. 7 seeded Martin Redlicki is currently a UCLA senior and 22 years old. Last year at this tournament, the wild card Redlicki played a fourth consecutive three-setter, but fell in his semifinal match to the No. 4-seed and eventual champion from Germany, Sebastian Fanselow, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in one of the best matches of the tournament.

Already granted entry into the main draw of singles by way of winning the Claremont Club Wild Card Tournament are Henry Craig or Murrieta and Alberto Lim of South Pasadena.

The 2015 champion Deiton Baughman is also seeded and on the comeback trail after spending a year as an assistant coach under Peter Smith at USC.

In qualifying SoCal players Logan Smith (USC), Keegan Smith (UCLA), Henry Craig (2017 Ojai Open champ) and Austin Rapp (UCLA) are all entered.

For more information, check on the web at:www.procircuit.usta.com, www.claremontclub.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Claremont-Club/236147226396