On Wednesday, the USTA announced the selections for the American Collegiate Player Wildcard Playoffs, a small tournament that rewards the best American players in college tennis with a chance to win a wildcard into the US Open.
The Michigan women’s tennis team will send the most players of any university on the women’s side, with three Wolverines set to compete in the tournament.
In singles, No. 8 junior Piper Charney will represent Michigan as the third player selected in the field of four. Charney’s competitors will be No. 2 Reese Brantmeier of North Carolina, the NCAA singles champion, No. 4 Luciana Perry of Ohio State and No. 11 Katrina Scott of Tennessee.
Charney has already found success against this field this season, notching a win over Brantmeier and a victory against Perry, both coming in crucial moments in the season. If Charney wins two matches, she will receive a main draw wildcard, and if she wins one, she will receive a qualifying wildcard. This would be Charney’s first appearance in women’s singles at any Grand Slam.
On the doubles side, the No. 22 pairing of senior Lily Jones and sophomore Jessica Bernales will play their final matches as a collegiate duo, with Jones graduating and Bernales set to transfer to UCLA. Jones and Bernales will be the lowest-ranked team participating, with the other competing teams being No. 3 Ava Esposito and DJ Bennet of Auburn, No. 4 Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton from the Tar Heels and No. 17 Valeria Ray and Bridget Stammel of Vanderbilt.
Only a main draw wildcard is up for grabs in doubles, meaning Jones and Bernales will have to win two matches to earn a place at the US Open.
With entry to one of the most prestigious tournaments in professional tennis on the line, the pressure will be high, and Charney, Jones and Bernales will compete among college tennis’ best for a significant prize.
