SMASH Column, Kalamazoo Edition
My SMASH online column is up, and although I feel I left out more than I included, it certainly wasn't a chore to write.
Also, the USTA has announced the women's U.S. Open wild cards. Only Alexa Glatch, and Lauren Albanese, who won hers in the Girls 18s Nationals in San Jose, are juniors in the main draw group. The qualifying wild cards are a much younger bunch, with six girls--Julia Cohen, Madison Brengle, Chelsey Gullickson, Jamie Hampton, Ashley Weinhold and Mary Gambale--all aged 17 and under.
Marcia Frost will not be happy; Audra Cohen, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Player of the Year from the University of Miami, did not receive a qualifying wild card; no college players did.
9 comments:
I'm not happy, but a little more satisfied than previous years. At least the main draw wildcards did go to some established professionals -- Serena Williams, Chanda Rubin -- rather than just the "professional teens" the USTA has been giving them to.
I'm still hoping to see some of the college women among the doubles. Kristi Miller of Georgia Tech was the only college player at the Open last year and she did well in doubles.
Where can one find the results for the world junior 14-and-under team competition?
Thanks.
Here is the ITF website link
http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/news/newsarticle.asp?id=16818
Marcia Frost I'm not happy either. Audra Cohen is a gladiator. She has a HUGE forehand. She dominates the competition.
Collette,
Does that, in effect, amount to an admission by the USTA that they place little to no value on the college game: in particular, those players still within the college system?
Cohen has had some encouraging results of late at smaller $10K tournaments (a win, and two semi-finals - one after qualifying), and does appear to be one player with the sort of 'big game' that could translate well to professional tennis. Injury not-withstanding (Cohen did default from her last event), why not reward her?
So often we hear the USTA pontificating on the virtues of college tennis and how other nations would be thrilled to have such a system. However, when the opportunity arises to reward someone who has chosen that route (and been ,arguably, the dominant player over the past two years), they turn their back on them.
What sort of message does that send to junior players?
Well I think it's pretty clear that they are not going to give a wildcard to someone who is still in college unless they are the NCAA champion because if you aren't a pro you can't accept the entire prize money. I wish they would at least give one to the highest ranked graduating American, or highest ranked American that just turned pro out of college since the highest ranked might be a sophmore or junior instead of a senior. I think something like that would be a big incentive for kids just finishing school and trying to make it on tour. Ryler DeHeart is having some good results so far but won't get a wildcard into the Open. Of the Americans that played college in 2006 he has probably had the best results on tour this summer, unless you count Ryan Sweeting since he is now flying under the U.S. flag.
I want a wildcard in the US Open. I play at an Academy for four years and play two years college maybe I get one too. Why not? Ryan Sweeting has one why not me? I'm prettier than him and I have been in US longer than him.
Did anyone see Jason Jung play at Kalamazoo? I got a chance to watch him a little bit this year and last. He got to the round of 16 last year and this year, and has upset many excellent players along the way, including Nikita Kryvonos, Bryan Koniecko, and this year Nate Schnugg. It looks like he even won the so cal men's sectionals open wild card tournament for countrywide classic, beating players like Vince Mackey, and a bunch of great college players. I just saw the US Open Junior acceptance list and I'm surprised he didn't recieve a wild card. It seems like he's had some pretty good results in the ITFs as well. Maybe the USTA should pay more attention to this kid, he has killer ground strokes and some serious potential.
Austin,
If the thinking is that only professional players be granted wildcards (any type) why give a qualifying wildcard to someone who is committed to attending college or a junior with a less than stellar professional record (0-2 for the year, ranked 999)?
I propose that, in future, the question 'What's wrong with American tennis?' should be amended to 'Who's wrong with American tennis?'. Hint: it's not the players.
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