Sanam Singh and Caitlin Whoriskey Win 2014 U.S. Open National Playoffs
The USTA has announced that Sanam Singh and Caitlin Whoriskey have won the 2014 U.S. Open National Playoffs–Women’s and Men’s Singles Championships to earn wild cards into the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament. The Playoffs were held Aug. 15-18 in New Haven, Conn., in conjunction with the Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies, the final Emirates Airline U.S.k Open Series women’s event of the summer.
The 2014 U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament ends Aug. 22 and will be held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., at the home of the U.S. Open. Qualifying draws will be posted later today at www.USOpen.org.
Unseeded Whoriskey, 26, of East Sandwich, Mass., defeated 15-year-old Michaela Gordon of Saratoga, Calif., 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, to capture the 2014 U.S. Open National Playoffs women’s title. Whoriskey is a former University of Tennessee standout, who was a three-time All-American and was named the 2010 ITA National Senior Player of the Year after leading the Volunteers to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight seasons. She also reached the final of the 2010 NCAA Doubles Championships with Natalie Pluskota. Whoriskey captured her first career USTA Pro Circuit singles title in May at the $10,000 event in Hilton Head Island, S.C., where she also won the doubles crown. She has also captured seven USTA Pro Circuit and ITF-level doubles titles throughout the world. Whoriskey is ranked 526th in the world.
Top seed Singh, 26, of Charlottesville, Va., defeated the number two seed and defending U.S. Open National Playoffs singles champion Jeff Dadamo, of Tampa, Fla., 6-2, 6-2, in the final. Singh, who competes for India, won the doubles gold medal and the team bronze medal in the 2010 Asian Games. He played for the University of Virginia, where he earned All-America honors in 2009 and 2010 and was a member of the team that advanced to the 2008 NCAA Championships semifinals. Singh has captured 14 USTA Pro Circuit and ITF-level titles all over the world (seven singles and seven doubles). As a junior player, he peaked at fourth in the world in 2006 and played in all four junior Grand Slam events, competing in the U.S. Open juniors in 2006. Singh is ranked No. 390 in the world.
There were 1,088 players (723 men and 365 women) who competed in the fifth year of the U.S. Open National Playoffs in singles, playing in one of 13 Sectional Qualifying Tournaments held throughout the United States. The U.S. Open National Playoffs are designed to bring the spirit of the US Open to cities and sections across the country, making the US Open eligible to anyone and everyone 14 and over with the passion to compete, regardless of playing ability or nationality.
The 2014 US Open National Playoffs – Mixed Doubles Championship will take place in New Haven, August 20-23, with 12 teams competing. The winning team will receive a main draw wild card into the 2014 US Open Mixed Doubles Tournament, held August 27-September 5, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.
The US Open National Playoffs – Mixed Doubles Championship field includes (player, age, hometown and sectional qualifying tournament):
Two sectional qualifying-winning teams were unable to compete in the U.S. Open National Playoffs–Mixed Doubles Championship – Matt Stillwagon and Jessica Keener (USTA Mid-Atlantic), and Ilia Shatashvili and Lindsay Graff (USTA Middle States) and runner-up teams were selected. No team will be represented from USTA Southern due to scheduling conflicts
