The semifinals are now set, and the math for the USTA Wildcard Challenge French Open main draw wildcard is pretty simple. On Saturday, Allie Kiick takes on Katerina Stewart in the first semifinal in the 2015 Revolution Technologies Pro Tennis Classic at the Kiwi Tennis Club in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. That match will be followed by Louisa Chirico against Maria Sanchez, and between them, the two semifinals feature all three of the contenders (Kiick, Stewart, Chirico) for the French Open wildcard. The USTA couldn’t have asked for a better showcase for its Challenge as the battle for the Parisian Prize has come right down to the final foursome here in Indian Harbour Beach, the last of the three tournaments that determines which American prospect is awarded direct entry into the main draw at the second major of the year.
Chirico and Kiick control their own destinies this weekend. By winning the tournament, they each can claim the wildcard outright. Stewart needs a win over Kiick tomorrow and a loss by Chirico or she will be eliminated from the race. A win by Chirico tomorrow means only she or Kiick can win the wildcard. The scenario is determined by virtue of the fact that the wildcard is awarded based on the number of points won in the best two of the three U.S. Har Tru clay court tournaments which make uo the Challenge (Dothan, Alabama, won by Chirico over Stewart; Charlottesville, Virginia, won by Kiick over Stewart; and Indian Harbour Beach).
Regardless of the outcome, it should be a spectacular weekend of tennis, as all three, and Sanchez as well, are playing some fantastic tennis this week. If you are anything remotely approaching a tennis fan, do yourself a favor and come out and support these terrific young ladies as they chase their dreams and vie for glory on the road to Paris.
Saturday’s nightcap will feature the doubles semifinal between Taylor Townsend and Maria Sanchez and Sanaz Marand and Gabriela CE.