Thai-Son Kwiatkowski Invited to ACI at 2016 US Open
Story Links
Sept. 7, 2016
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia men’s tennis senior Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (Charlotte, N.C.) has been invited to play in the third annual American Collegiate Invitational at the 2016 US Open, September 8-10 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.
Former Cavalier Ryan Shane will also be in the field.
The American Collegiate Invitational, open only to American college players, began in 2014 as a way to spotlight college tennis during the US Open. Eight men and eight women play single-elimination singles tournaments Thursday to Saturday during the second week of the US Open, with the winners receiving a wild card into the 2017 US Open, main draw or qualifying, depending on their ranking next summer. The fields are comprised of the top two players in the ATP/WTA rankings (as of July 18) and the top five players in the year-end Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings (excluding those selected by pro ranking), including at least two graduating seniors or players who have turned pro/exhausted their collegiate eligibility.
Kwiatkowski will face Michael Redlicki in the first round on Thursday (Sept. 8) while Shane will play Jared Hiltzik.
Shane and Kwiatkowski both played in last year’s tournament, advancing to the semifinals.
The ACI men’s champion will receive a main draw wild-card entry into the 2017 US Open if he is ranked No. 120or better by the US Open entry deadline next summer. Otherwise, the winners will receive wild-card entries into the US Open Qualifying Tournament. The champions will also get wild cards into two USTA Pro Circuit events, while each runner-up will receive one.
Men’s Field:
Christopher Eubanks (Jr., Georgia Tech; Atlanta)
Tom Fawcett (Jr., Stanford; Winnetka, Ill.)
*Jared Hiltzik (Illinois; Wilmette, Ill.)
Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (Sr., Virginia; Charlotte)
Mike Redlicki (Sr., Arkansas; Chicago)
*Ryan Shane (Virginia; Falls Church, Va.)
*Austin Smith (Georgia; Cumming, Ga.)
**Paul Oosterbaan (Jr., Georgia; Kalamazoo, Mich.)
*Indicates player is a graduating senior and/or has turned pro/exhausted collegiate eligibility;
** USTA Wild Card Selection