Nine Americans Among Recipients Into The Main Draws, Including Top Finishers in the Second Annual Oracle Challenger Series
INDIAN WELLS, Calif., March 1, 2019 – Nine Americans were among those awarded main draw wild cards into the 2019 BNP Paribas Open, to be held March 4-17 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Three American men received wild cards into the main draw including Reilly Opelka, Donald Young and Jared Donaldson. World No. 58 Opelka, who captured his first ATP Tour title earlier this month at the New York Open, and Young, who was a semifinalist at the Oracle Challenger Series Newport Beach, were awarded wildcards based on their point totals in the Oracle Challenger Series. In addition, World No. 37 Laslo Djere, who last week won his first ATP Tour title in Rio de Janeiro, and 18 year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 60 following a runner-up performance at the Rio Open last week, were also awarded wild cards.
On the women’s side, six Americans received wild cards including 17-year-old American Amanda Anisimova, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 59 after a reaching the Round of 16 at the Australian Open earlier this year. She is joined by Sachia Vickery, who upset then-World No. 3 Garbiñe Muguruza in the first round at last year’s BNP Paribas Open, Jennifer Brady, Taylor Townsend, Madison Brengle, and the player who accumulated the most points in the Oracle Challenger Series, Jessica Pegula. The second wild card recipient from the Series will be determined this weekend based on the results of the Indian Wells event. The 18 year-old Canadian No. 1 Bianca Andreescu – currently ranked No. 71 – was awarded the final main draw wild card on the women’s side. Andreescu captured her first Tour-level title at the Oracle Challenger Series Newport Beach.
Wild cards into the BNP Paribas Open Men’s Qualifying Draw were awarded to Americans Christopher Eubanks, Marcus Giron, Mitchell Krueger, JJ Wolf and Evan Song, the winner of the BNP Paribas Open pre-qualifying tournament last month.
Americans Francesca Di Lorenzo, Allie Kiick, Catherine Mcnally, and BNP Paribas Open pre-qualifying champion Ashley Kratzer received wild cards into the BNP Paribas Open Women’s Qualifying Draw. In addition, Zoe Kruger of South Africa also received a qualifying wild card. One remaining women’s qualifying wild card is still to be awarded.
