Talent Gets Young Players Wildcard Entry To BNP Paribas
A handful of up-and-coming players were awarded wildcard berths into the main singles draw of the BNP Paribas Open, it was announced today.
Among those given the place in the main draw is Milos Raonic, who, at No. 37 in the ATP World Tour, is the highest-ranked Canadian singles player since the rating system began in 1973.
The BNP Paribas Open begins main draw play at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 9. Players who have been awarded berths will try to earn a spot in the bracket during qualifying rounds March 7 and 8.
Also given a pass into the main draw on the men’s side were Kei Nishikori, Ryan Harrison and Bernard Tomic. Nishikori is ranked No. 62 in the world, Harrison delivered a Top 20 upset over Ivan Ljubicic last year at the U.S. Open, and Tomic reached the third round of the Australian Open last month. At 18, both Harrison and Tomic are the youngest players ranked in the world’s top 200.
On the women’s side, Americans Coco Vandeweghe, Christina McHale, Lauren Davis and Sloane Stephens were advanced into the main draw. Both Vandeweghe and McHale were part of the U.S. Fed Cup team that advanced to the finals, and Stephens finished last year as the No. 3 ranked junior in the world.
Having once attained a No. 8 world ranking, Mark Philippoussis was given a wildcard entry into the men’s qualifying round. Philippoussis won the 1999 Paribas Open.
Nearly all of the top players on the men’s and women’s tours will take part in the Paribas Open, including No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Roger Federer. On the women’s side, No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, No. 2 Kim Clijsters and No. 3 Vera Zvonareva will compete.
A prequalifying tournament begins Wednesday, in which one man and one woman will earn a spot in the qualifying rounds. The prequalifying round is open to anybody and, between men and women, has a record 145 entries this year, according to tournament director Steve Simon.
