Tennis Briefs: US Open Wild Card Challenge, MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation Receives $10K Grant

Jacksonville’s MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation Receives $10K Grant, to Host July 15 Tennis Fun Day

The MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation in Jacksonville, Fla., was announced as one of 10 recipients of $10,000 grants from longtime US Open sponsor Chase. The grants went to National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapters for year-round tennis and education programming that engages kids in the A.C.E. curriculum (Academic Creative Engagement).

On July 15, Chase will also help each NJTL grant recipient host a #ReturnTheServe Fun Day to celebrate each chapter’s programming and its impact on youth. The grants were distributed through the USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the United States Tennis Association.

“The USTA Foundation is proud to once again partner with Chase to award 10 of our very-deserving NJTL chapters with these generous grants,” said Dan Faber, executive director, USTA Foundation. “We commend Chase for giving back to thousands of NJTL participants through the #ReturnTheServe Fun Day that will surely bring a lasting impact to the lives of many.”

Each event will include a variety of tennis-related activities for the youth participants of the NJTL programs, along with their families. In addition, the events will include a check presentation to the NJTL chapter leaders by a local Chase representative.

Grants were also awarded to NJTL chapters in New Orleans; San Francisco; Addison, Texas; Woodside, N.Y.; Portland, Ore.; Los Angeles; Upper Marlboro, Md.; Riverdale, Ill.; and Houston.

“Access to physical activity and education can have a critical impact on the health and overall well-being of children, particularly those in under-served communities,” said Barbara Paddock, managing director for sports and entertainment at JPMorgan Chase. “As a sponsor of the US Open for 35 years, we’re proud of the USTA Foundation’s work to strengthen communities, and we’re proud to help build on the impact the NJTL programs have on the hundreds or thousands of youth involved across the country.”

For additional info visit www.ustafoundation.com.

USTA Pro Circuit ‘US Open Wild Card Challenge’ Begins This Week

An additional American man and women will earn a US Open wild card over the next month during the 2016 US Open Wild Card Challenge, which features three men’s and three women’s USTA Pro Circuit events, offering the top point-earners entry into the US Open.

Only Americans who did not earn direct entry into the US Open are eligible. All tournaments will be streamed live on www.procircuit.usta.com. Tournaments can also be followed on the USTA Pro Circuit’s smartphone app by searching “procircuit” in the app store.

The University of the Pacific $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit Challenger, a women’s event in Stockton, Calif., kicked off the wild card challenge this week. The men’s wild card challenge will begin next week at the $50,000 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger in Binghamton, N.Y.

The US Open Wild Card Challenge will consist of the following events:

Women:

— University of the Pacific Challenger, Stockton, Calif. (week of July 11)
— FSP Gold River Women’s Challenger, Sacramento, Calif. (week of July 18)
— Kentucky Bank Tennis Championships, Lexington, Ky. (week of July 25)

Men:

— Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger, Binghamton, N.Y. (week of July 18)
— Kentucky Bank Tennis Championships, Lexington, Ky. (week of July 25)
— Nordic Naturals Challenger, Aptos, Calif. (week of August 8)

Past US Open Wild Card Challenge Champions:

2015 — Bjorn Fratangelo, Samantha Crawford
2014 — Wayne Odesnik, Nicole Gibbs
2013 — Bradley Klahn, Shelby Rogers
2012 — Steve Johnson, Mallory Burdette

The USTA also utilizes the wild card challenge format for the French Open and Australian Open. The 2016 US Open main draw will be held Monday, Aug. 29, to Sunday, Sept. 11. For more info go to www.procircuit.usta.com.