J.C. Aragone Qualifies for the US Open

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Aug. 25, 2017

FLUSHING, N.Y. – Former Virginia men’s tennis player J.C. Aragone has earned a spot in the men’s singles main draw of the 2017 U.S. Open after picking up three victories in the qualifying tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., this week.

Aragone, who received a wild card into the qualifying tournament, defeated fifth-seeded Marco Cecchinato of Italy, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the opening round on Tuesday (August 22). Cecchinato is currently ranked No. 101 in the ATP world rankings. On Thursday (August 24), Aragone defeated another Italian, Riccardo Bellotti, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Bellotti is currently ranked No. 256. In Friday’s qualifying final, Aragone downed No. 171 Akira Santillan of Japan, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, to earn his spot in the main draw.

Aragone will join former teammate Thai-Son Kwiatkowski in the men’s singles main draw. Kwiatkowski, the 2017 NCAA Singles champion, earned a wild card into the main draw and will face No. 27 Mischa Zverev in the opening round on Monday as the third match on court 12. Aragone will face former Illini Kevin Anderson in the opening round on Monday as the second match on court five. Anderson is currently No. 32 in the world rankings.

This is the first time in program history that two former Virginia players will be competing in the singles main draw. There will be three total Cavaliers competing in the championships as Dominic Inglot is competing in the doubles main draw. Treat Huey was also slated to compete in doubles, but withdrew because of injury.

Kwiatkowski and Aragone were members of three NCAA championship teams at Virginia, helping to lead UVA to the 2015, 2016 and 2017 team titles as well as the 2017 ITA National Team Indoor championship.

The 2017 US Open begins Monday, August 28 and runs through Sunday, September 10.