2016 U.S. Open
Story Links
Sept. 4, 2016
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Four Cavaliers, including three alums as well as current senior Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (Charlotte, N.C.), are competing this year in events surrounding the U.S. Open, being held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, N.Y.
Kwiatkowski and former Cavalier Ryan Shane competed in the qualifying singles tournament the week of August 22, vying for a spot in the main draw. Kwiatkowski faced Henri Laaksonen, currently ranked No. 161 in the world, winning his first set, 6-2, but Laaksonen rallied to take the final two sets 6-1 and 6-4.
Shane advanced to the second round of qualifying after downing No. 154 Kimmer Coppejans 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Coppejans was the highest-ranked player Shane has defeated this season. Shane was eliminated in the second round by No. 181 Ilya Ivanshka, 6-3, 6-3.
Despite not earning spots in the main draw, Shane and Kwiatkowski will return to the National Tennis Center later in the Open, playing in the American Collegiate Invitational Sept. 8-10. The ACI, 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.
Two Cavalier alums will be playing in the main draw of the U.S. Open doubles tournament. Treat Huey, currently ranked No. 18 in the world in doubles, will be partnering with Max Mirnyi. The duo earned the No. 9 seed in the tournament, but were upset in the first round 6-4, 6-4 by Nicolas Almagro and Victor Estrella Burgos. Huey also in mixed doubles with Andreja Klepac, falling int he first round 7-5, 6-4 to Robert Farah and Ana-Lena Groenefeld.
Dominic Inglot partnered with Marin Draganja, falling 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 to Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin in the first round of the doubles draw. Inglot also competed in mixed doubles, partnering with Michaella Krajicek to down Raquel Atawo and Jean-Juien Rojer 7-6 (4), 5-7, 10-4 before falling to Farah and Groenefeld, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8. Inglot and Huey would have faced one another in the second round of mixed doubles had Huey advanced.