Vandeweghe and Pliskova take New Haven wildcards
NEW HAVEN, CT, USA - 2017 US Open semifinalist Coco Vandeweghe and former World No.1 Karolina Pliskova have both accepted wildcards into the 2018 Connecticut Open.
"I am thrilled to be awarded this Connecticut Open wildcard as I look for tough matches ahead of this year's US Open," said Vandeweghe. "New Haven offers such great conditions, a super strong field and any chance to play in front of an American crowd is a treat for me."
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Vandeweghe, who holds two WTA titles and reached the final at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart this spring, represented the United States at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and is a proud member of the US Fed Cup team. She will return to the main draw in New Haven for the third time in her career.
And it's official... I'm #NewHaven bound! Excited to announce that I've accepted the wildcard into the @connecticutopen! See you there! #CTOpenTennis #TeamEbix pic.twitter.com/nQwJMkJUvj
— CoCo Vandeweghe (@CoCoVandey) August 16, 2018
Pliskova has 10 WTA singles titles to her name, and her best result on US soil came when she reached the final of the US Open in 2016.
"To have the fourth-ranked American in our draw is fantastic for our fans here in New Haven, who love to show their support to our American players," said Tournament Director Anne Worcester. "Coco is such a fun personality both on and off the court, we can't wait to have her here.
"Karolina has been one of the most dominant players on tour in the past few years and her serve is one of the biggest weapons in tennis. Our fans are in for a real treat with five of the top 10 players in the world competing."
Qualifying wild cards are now confirmed for the US Open Series event. Joining Caroline Dunleavy (Yale), Whitney Osuigwe and Bernarda Pera will be 2017 Junior Wimbledon Champion Claire Liu, Maria Mateas and Emma Davis in the all-American line-up.
Mateas (from Braintree, MA) is quickly rising in the WTA rankings and is currently ranked No.284 after winning her first $25K ITF Pro Circuit title in Fort Worth, TX. She will enter her freshman year at Duke University in the fall. Davis (Cohasset, MA) is coming off an incredible year of tennis at Wake Forest University and is currently ranked No.25 in the country among NCAA Division 1 college players.