US Open planning to give 15-year-old Gauff wild card into main draw
Under the WTA's age eligibility rules, she is not allowed receive any more wild cards until her next birthday because she has already received three since turning 15, but Grand Slam events do not have to follow this rule.
Wimbledon sensation Cori Gauff appears set to receive a main draw wild card for the US Open, according to the NY Post.
The 15-year-old is coming off a run to the fourth round of Wimbledon, where she became one of the biggest stories of the first few rounds of the tournament. Her performance has moved her up to No. 141 in the rankings, which is not high enough to get her into the US Open.
But the tournament seems likely to give her a wild card.
"We would expect to see Coco in the main draw of the US Open," USTA communications official Chris Widmaier told the newspaper.
Gauff has received three wild cards since turning 15—at Miami, qualifying for the French Open, and the qualifying at Wimbledon. Under the WTA's age eligibility rules, she is not allowed receive any more until her next birthday, but Grand Slam events do not have to follow this rule.
Gauff is also limited to playing just 10 events under the age eligibility rule, though she has received a performance-based increase of two events and could get an increase of another two. She has played seven events so far, and must now choose sparingly.
She is next considering playing the WTA event at Washington, D.C. if she can get into the main draw based on ranking, said the Post.
She would now be among the top attractions at any event she enters.
At Wimbledon, Gauff said she would like to play more events than currently allowed, though adding that she would still probably avoid playing a full season.
And she may get to do just that as the WTA's age rules are under review.
