Four Bruins Compete at ACI at US Open
September 10, 2015 | Women's Tennis
Flushing, N.Y.—UCLA junior Mackenzie McDonald joins former Bruins Dennis Mkrtchian, Robin Anderson, and Chanelle Van Nguyen to compete at the American Collegiate Invitational at the U.S. Open this week.
Mkrtchian will face first-seeded Ryan Shane (Virginia) at 12:00 p.m. EDT on court five, followed by second-seeded McDonald versus Quentin Monaghan (Notre Dame). This is McDonald's second year competing at the event. On the women's side, Van Nguyen takes on No. 1 seed Brooke Austin (Florida) on court six at 12:00 p.m. EDT while No. 2 seed Robin Anderson battles Josie Kuhlman (Florida) on court four.
Former Bruin and NCAA champion Marcos Giron won the inaugural event last year. First-seeded Giron swept Peter Kobelt, 6-1, 6-3, in the Men's Collegiate Invitational final.
The ACI, which takes place Sept. 10-12 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., is open only to American college players. The field, which was still being finalized by the USTA, will feature eight men and eight women. The student-athletes will compete in a single-elimination tournament, with the champions earning main-draw wild cards into the 2016 US Open if either is ranked No. 120 or better by the 2016 US Open entry deadline next summer. Otherwise, the winners will receive qualifying wild cards. The champions will also get wild cards into two USTA Pro Circuit events, while each runner-up will earn one wild card.
Grounds pass admissions on Thursday will be free the entire day at the U.S. Open.
