The Claremont USTA Pro Classic will celebrate its 23rd year, and once again will feature some of the rising stars in pro tennis. The tournament begins next week with qualifying, with the finals set for the following Sunday, Sept. 16.
The tournament is the first of three consecutive $15,000 USTA Pro Circuit hard-court men’s events held in Southern California following the US Open.
Past or current UCLA Bruins have dominated in recent years as there have been seven Bruin finalists over the past six years. Recent UCLA graduate Martin Redlicki advanced to the Claremont singles final last year losing to his one-time Bruin teammate Karue Sell in a three-set final. Redlicki is currently ranked No. 620 in the ATP World Tour rankings and should be seeded among the top eight players.
Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva will be the top-seeded player and is currently ranked No. 602 in the ATP World Tour rankings. Reis Da Silva is a native of Recife, Brazil, and is 18 years old.
Henry Craig of Murrieta is ranked just outside the world top 600 and will be seeded just ahead of Redlicki, who comes in currently ranked No. 614 in the world.
Other Americans in the main draw are: Paul Oosterbaan, Trevor Johnson, Sumit Sarkar, Alec Adamson and USC’s No. 1 player Brandon Holt.
In qualifying SoCal players Logan Smith (USC), Daniel Cukierman (USC), Keegan Smith and Jacob Bullard (future University of Texas) are all entered.
Qualifying concludes on Monday, Sept. 10, 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. 16.
Already granted entry into the main draw of singles by way of winning the Claremont Club Wild Card Tournaments in July are high school sophomore Zachary Svajda from San Diego and former UCLA player Gage Brymer of Irvine.
For more information, check on the web at:www.procircuit.usta.com, www.claremontclub.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Claremont-Club/236147226396