University of Georgia Athletics
Gullickson Awarded 2010 US Open Main Draw Wild Card
August 19, 2010 | Women's Tennis
Aug. 19, 2010
ATHENS-----University of Georgia junior Chelsey Gullickson, the 2010 NCAA singles champion, has received a wild-card invitation for the singles main draw of the US Open Tennis Championships, the USTA announced Wednesday.
The 2010 US Open will be played Aug. 30-Sept. 12 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. Gullickson, who turns 20 on Aug. 29, is a native of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Currently, she is competing as an amateur and plans to return to Georgia in January. She became the third NCAA singles champion in Bulldog history this past May, and the first since Angela Lettiere in 1994. That year, Lettiere was granted a wildcard to the US Open and returned to play in the grand slam event again in 1996 and 1997.
Next week while in Flushing, N.Y., Gullickson will be honored as a member of the 27th edition of the ITA All-Star Team, which features the nation's top-ranked players and National Champions from the 2009-10 season. These student-athletes will attend an awards luncheon and be a part of the 15th annual Arthur Ashe Kids' Day festivities at the Open tennis center.
Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids' Day has featured many of music's biggest acts including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, Backstreet Boys, Ne-Yo, Sean Kingston, Jesse McCartney, Bow Wow and Hanson.
This year, the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato will be in attendance along with world #1 Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic.
Before the US Open, Gullickson will compete at the Pilot Penn Tennis at Yale, an Olympus US Open Series event on the WTA Tour in New Haven, Conn. She was granted a wild-card invitation to the singles qualifying draw that begins Friday.
Action at the Connecticut Tennis Center on the Yale campus will be from Aug. 20-28. Also, she may play doubles with her older sister, Carla, who is a regular on the tour. Main draw action begins on Sunday. The Gullickson tandem advanced to the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Open last week in Cincinnati.
For a bio of Gullickson, please click on this link:
http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/w-tennis/mtt/gullickson_chelsey00.html
