By Erik Gudris / Thursday, December 19, 2013

 

Rising American players will vie this weekend at the Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs for a coveted main draw wildcard into next month's Grand Slam.

Photo Credit: USTA

The Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs are underway this weekend in Norcross, Georgia. For 16 rising American players, it is an opportunity to earn a coveted main draw wildcard into the Grand Slam tournament that kicks off next month in Melbourne, Australia.

Through a reciprocal agreement with Tennis Australia, the USTA hosts this annual event that allows one man and one woman the chance to earn their spot at the Australian Open without having to go through qualifying.

This year's men's field features several participants from last year along with some new faces. Denis Kudla enters as the top seed while 2013 winner Rhyne Williams is back as the No. 2 seed.

Chase Buchanan, Bjorn Fratangelo, Jarmere Jenkins, Steve Johnson, Austin Krajicek, and Tennys Sandgren round out the field.

Jenkins, a native of College Park, Ga., recently turned pro after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Virginia. He led his team to the NCAA team title this past spring along with winning the doubles championships and reaching the singles final.

"It's great for me to be playing in front of the home crowd," Jenkins said at a pre-event press conference. "This is the first chance I've had to play in front of family and friends so it is going to be really special for me. And I definitely will need the support because there is a good group of guys here."

The women's event has often been a springboard to greater success on the WTA tour. Two-time winner Madison Keys went on to have a breakout season in 2013 and finished the year ranked inside the top 40.

This year's field features both familiar faces and new arrivals.

Shelby Rogers, the top seed, is no stranger to earning a wildcard into the majors. The South Carolina native won USTA wildcards into this year's French Open and US Open.

Madison Brengle, Grace Min and Victoria Duval complete the top four seeds, respectively. Duval is best known for beating former US Open champion Sam Stosur in the opening round of this year's US Open. The draw also includes Nicole Gibbs, Maria Sanchez, Sachia Vickery and Sanaz Marand. Marand entered the event after Julia Cohen, who was scheduled to compete, withdrew earlier this week.

The playoffs are a single elimination event played in a best-of-three-sets format. The only exception is the men's final, which will be contested as a best-of-five match.

For more information, visit the event's website here.