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12/13/10 6:16 PM | Ricky Dimon
The USTA's Australian Open wild card playoffs are taking place this weekend in Atlanta. Ryan Harrison and Donald Young are among those hoping to gain entry into 2011's first Grand Slam.
Eight up-and-coming Americans will battle it out for the USTA's wild card into the 2011 Australian Open this weekend in Atlanta. Let's take a look at the field:
Jordan Cox - Cox, 18, has been on the junior radar screen for quite some time. He reached the final of the 2009 Wimbledon juniors, but he failed to do anything notable in 2010. As a result, he is now under the radar at least compared to other contenders this week.
Ryan Harrison - Harrison, 18, is considered America's best teenage prospect. He upset Ivan Ljubicic in the first round of this year's U.S. Open and had three match points against Sergiy Stakhovsky before falling in a fifth-set tiebreaker.
Denis Kudla - Kudla, 18, has been tearing it up the junior circuit. Among the highlights is a run to the final of this season's U.S. Open juniors. Futures and Challengers, however, are proving to be a much tougher test for Kudla.
Shabaz - Shabaz, 23, is one of the oldest of the bunch but perhaps the least well-known; that's because he opted for college and has been starring as the University if Virginia's No. 1 player. Last month he enjoyed an amazing run to the Charlottesville Challenger title match, upsetting Harrison, Kei Nishikori, and Chris Guccione in the process.
Tim Smyczek - Smyczek, 23, is the oldest player in the field and he has more experience at the ATP level than anyone other than Harrison and Donald Young. He has played six tour-level matches in his career, including five this season (winning one). On paper (No. 171 in the world), Smyczek is one of the favorites.
Jack Sock - Sock, 18, is one America's most heralded juniors. And why not? He won the U.S. Open junior title (perhaps aided by some practice sessions with Novak Djokovic), beating Kudla in the final. Sock, though, has been struggling in Futures and Challengers.
Rhyne Williams - Williams, 19, went the college route like Shabaz. He played No. 3 for the University of Tennessee, which lost in the NCAA Championship to the University of Southern California. Williams also fared well on the Challenger circuit this season, so he should not be overlooked.
Donald Young - Young, 21, still has age on his side despite seemingly having been around forever. Despite his relative youth, all the years of failing to live up to expectations have to be taking a toll on him. Young is the biggest name and the highest-ranked player in the field (No. 132), but the pressure of being the so-called favorite probably won't help.
Who the USTA wants to win: Harrison. By a mile. He is thought to be the next big thing in American tennis and he--along with Young--would have a chance to advance a round or two Down Under.
Who should win: Young. He has the most experience in big-time tournaments and is playing at home in Atlanta.
Who will win: Harrison. He is playing with confidence after a breakout 2010 season. If he goes up against Young at any point this week, the mental edge definitely goes to Harrison.
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Nice bit of info Ricky ... good to know who the up and comers are. Would be nice to see some of this from other countries also ... maybe posters from different parts of the world could contribute.
smr , 12/16/10 1:31 AM
Cheers Ricky, this is just the kind of article I wanted! As smr says now for rest of world hopefuls, please.
deuce , 12/16/10 7:55 AM
As an Australian would love us have the young talent that the USA is producing, do you think we could swap Tomic for Sock???
cal23 , 12/16/10 8:03 AM
Good info, Ricky.
Cal - that's alright. You all keep Tomic. :D
cherylmurray , 12/16/10 2:19 PM
danica - its a reciprocal agreement between the USTA and the Australian Tennis Federation. Australia automatically gets one into the US Open. This happens with tons of tournaments, not just Aussie and US.
RickyDimon , 12/16/10 5:08 PM
@Ricky, am I right that all the 4 "Slam" countries have the same agreement, ie., the French and UK also automatically get one?
@Cheryl, what about Cox then????
cal23 , 12/17/10 3:49 AM
cal23 - basically yes. Not sure which federations have agreements with each other, but yeah.
i might actually trade Cox for Tomic.... Wait, no I wouldn't.
RickyDimon , 12/17/10 4:33 AM
@Ricky, what if I throw Philipoussis in? He's always good for a laugh......
cal23 , 12/17/10 4:42 AM
thats a deal
RickyDimon , 12/17/10 4:43 AM
I will be there tomorrow for the four first-round matches. Young vs. Sock, Harrison vs. Shabaz should be the highlights.... Will post updates and photos on the Magazine!!
RickyDimon , 12/17/10 4:44 AM
I'll keep my eyes on Cox - my "new Aussie" favourite :)
cal23 , 12/17/10 4:53 AM
Isner won the 2008 installment of this.
cherylmurray , 12/17/10 5:33 PM
Harrison won the 2009 installment of this.
and he is definitely the favorite now after the Day 1 proceedings
RickyDimon , 12/18/10 4:50 PM
Day 1 Aussie Open WC POs recap - http://www.tennistalk.com/entertainment/aussie-open-playoffs-day-1.htm l
RickyDimon , 12/18/10 7:16 PM
and to the USTA's delight, Harrison is going to the Aussie Open!
RickyDimon , 12/20/10 1:40 AM
@Ricky, how did my boy Cox go?
cal23 , 12/20/10 2:48 AM
Actually Mark Philopussis is due to get a wild card to return to the AO 2011
What about Amer Delic getting a wild card ???
sals3 , 12/20/10 9:34 AM
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I don't get it. So, the USofA gets a wild card at the AO no matter what? And even the better players from other countries have to play qualifications? Not right.
danica , 12/15/10 11:13 PM