NEW YORK (AP)—Tennis players ranging in age from 14 to 61 will be taking a shot at making it to the Grand Slam stage when the U.S. Open national playoffs start.
The first of 16 sectional tournaments begins at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday. Eventually, one man and one woman will get a wild-card entry into the U.S. Open qualifying tournament in August.
There are 150 men and 44 women entered in the New York sectional. The youngest is 14-year-old Angela Assal of the Bronx, whose 17-year-old brother Anthony also is bidding for a chance to play against the pros. The oldest is 61-year-old Richie Bustamante of East Norwich, N.Y.
The men's national final will be in Atlanta in July. The women will compete at Stanford, Calif.