Although I haven't received a release, apparently the USTA has announced the women's wild cards for the U.S. Open. I'm frankly surprised by some of the selections. I expected Ahsha Rolle, who is ranked in the 130s and reached the third round last year and Melanie Oudin, and of course, Gail Brodsky, who earned hers with a win in Berkeley. But Berkeley runner-up Coco Vandeweghe and Asia Muhammad are surprises, as is Jamea Jackson, who is ranked in the 400s. This article implies that Rolle and Jackson are being rewarded for Fed Cup duty in the past. With the two reciprocal Grand Slam trades with France and Australia, that's all that are available, which means that NCAA champion Amanda McDowell of Georgia Tech will have to get through qualifying to reach the main draw.
Last week, I was part of a small news conference with General Manager of USTA Elite Player Development Patrick McEnroe, who was in Kalamazoo for two days observing play. During the Q and A, he couldn't have been more emphatic about the importance of college tennis as a development step. Pam Shebest of the Kalamazoo Gazette wrote this story about his remarks, which seemed especially appropriate when Texas A & M's Austin Krajicek won the 18s title Sunday.
Passing over a U.S.-born and trained NCAA champion seems to send the opposite message, and it's not as if McDowell hasn't played well this summer; she won the $10,000 Pro Circuit event in St. Joseph, Mo. as a qualifier earlier this month.
Madison Brengle was eligible to play in California (as was Oudin) and did not enter; instead she played Vancouver, where she beat No. 1 seed and No. 154 ranked Sunitha Rao in the first round before falling in the semifinals to 190th ranked Julie Coin in a third set tiebreaker.
In addition to McDowell and Brengle, the other qualifying wild cards went to:
Kristie Ahn, Julia Boserup, Kimberly Couts, reigning US Open girls' singles champion Kristina Kucova, Christina McHale, Shenay Perry and Sloane Stephens. Again no consideration for those with college backgrounds, with Alexis Gordon (364), Alexis Prousis (352) and Amanda Fink (488) on the outside looking in.
As the comments on the US Open Junior wild card possibilities demonstrate, no one is ever entirely happy with the wild card selections; nor do I think any two people are likely to come up with the same list. But there are undoubtedly themes to be recognized, and sadly, as far as I'm concerned, this year's theme is anti-college.
Last week, I was part of a small news conference with General Manager of USTA Elite Player Development Patrick McEnroe, who was in Kalamazoo for two days observing play. During the Q and A, he couldn't have been more emphatic about the importance of college tennis as a development step. Pam Shebest of the Kalamazoo Gazette wrote this story about his remarks, which seemed especially appropriate when Texas A & M's Austin Krajicek won the 18s title Sunday.
Passing over a U.S.-born and trained NCAA champion seems to send the opposite message, and it's not as if McDowell hasn't played well this summer; she won the $10,000 Pro Circuit event in St. Joseph, Mo. as a qualifier earlier this month.
Madison Brengle was eligible to play in California (as was Oudin) and did not enter; instead she played Vancouver, where she beat No. 1 seed and No. 154 ranked Sunitha Rao in the first round before falling in the semifinals to 190th ranked Julie Coin in a third set tiebreaker.
In addition to McDowell and Brengle, the other qualifying wild cards went to:
Kristie Ahn, Julia Boserup, Kimberly Couts, reigning US Open girls' singles champion Kristina Kucova, Christina McHale, Shenay Perry and Sloane Stephens. Again no consideration for those with college backgrounds, with Alexis Gordon (364), Alexis Prousis (352) and Amanda Fink (488) on the outside looking in.
As the comments on the US Open Junior wild card possibilities demonstrate, no one is ever entirely happy with the wild card selections; nor do I think any two people are likely to come up with the same list. But there are undoubtedly themes to be recognized, and sadly, as far as I'm concerned, this year's theme is anti-college.
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