LAKE NONA, Fla. — After three days of thrilling tennis at the USTA National Campus’ Collegiate Center, and multiple rain delays, eight American collegiate tennis players are heading to the 2026 US Open.
Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin (Ohio State) nabbed a wildcard to the US Open doubles main draw after a straight-set win in the doubles final; and DJ Bennett and Ava Esposito (Auburn) are heading to the US Open after a nail-biter three-set victory. In singles, both Sebastian Gorzny (Texas) and Reese Brantmeier (North Carolina) also secured their spots in the US Open singles main draw with straight-set victories. Despite coming in as singles runners-up, Trevor Svajda (SMU) and Katrina Scott (Tennessee) will still book travel to Flushing Meadows for singles qualifying.
MEN’S SINGLES AND DOUBLES FINALS
Sebastian Gorzny [2] def. Trevor Svajda [1], 6-2, 6-4
In an all-Texas singles final, Gorzny of UT-Austin earned a wildcard to the US Open main draw in a win against Svajda of SMU. Without dropping a set in either the semifinal or final, Gorzny seized every opportunity to get ahead. His strong serve and backhand slices made for a commanding performance that Svajda couldn’t quite overcome, even amid an unfortunately-timed rain delay at the tail-end of the match. Gorzny celebrated his win by sending a ball clear over the court’s back fence.
“Such a relief to get it done, especially after the rain delay at 5-4 deuce, two points away,” Gorzny told Inside American Tennis following the win. “Just happy to get over the finish line. Kind of can’t believe that I did.”
Brandon Carpico / Nikita Filin [1] def. Michael Andre / Matteo Antonescu [3], 6-2, 6-1
Ohio State’s Carpico and Filin nabbed the doubles wildcard to the US Open in a convincing fashion, with a straight-set victory over Indiana University’s Andre and Antonescu. Despite the result, the Hoosiers put up a good fight, posting some impressive rallies with the Buckeyes, but Carpico and Filin were on fire. The champions didn’t drop a set in this event and powered through the final with aggressive volleying and precise ball placement, even after a late-match rain delay that put them on ice for an hour.
“Everyone says [the US Open] is the ‘home Slam,’ so I think being from the United States and going to play one of the four biggest tournaments in the world, in your home country, is an awesome feeling,” Carpico said after the match.
WOMEN’S SINGLES AND DOUBLES FINALS
Reese Brantmeier [1] def. Katrina Scott [2], 6-4, 7-6(7)
Hungry to make her main draw debut at the US Open after competing in every draw except mixed doubles, North Carolina’s Brantmeier defeated 2020 main draw competitor Scott of Tennessee in straight sets on Thursday night. The first set followed serve until the Tar Heel grabbed a break for a 5-4 lead to serve for the set, capitalizing on her second set point. They traded breaks early in the second set, but got back on serve to force a tiebreak. Scott saved a match point, but Brantmeier, the 2025 NCAA Division I singles champion, was too tough to beat and won the wildcard.
“I’m ecstatic, [the US Open] is the pinnacle of tennis, that’s what you dream of as a kid. I’ve been to New York many times, but never in the main draw for singles. It’s a first for me and a huge milestone in my career,” Brantmeier said. “I’m just really proud to show college tennis at that stage… People are understanding that it is a legitimate pathway to the pros more and more, but I think this just goes to show that it truly is and you can use college tennis as such a springboard into your professional career.”
DJ Bennett / Ava Esposito [2] def. Reese Brantmeier / Alanis Hamilton [1], 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
Bennett and Esposito of Auburn upset last year’s American Collegiate Player Wildcard Playoffs winners, North Carolina’s Brantmeier and Hamilton in a three-set battle that went past midnight. The first set went on serve until the Tar Heels broke for a 4-3 lead, then saved a break point to hold to go up 5-3, eventually winning the set 6-4.
Brantmeier and Hamilton got the early break in the second set, just for the Tigers to break back a few games later, enabling them to serve for the set. The teams traded breaks early in the third, with all four players giving it everything they had in hopes of punching their ticket to Flushing Meadows. Bennett and Esposito’s powerful groundstrokes and quick reactions at net were ultimately too difficult to overcome for the top seeds, as Auburn got a break at 6-5 to serve for the match—and a US Open doubles wildcard.
“I am at a loss for words, it is kind of unreal,” Esposito told Inside American Tennis. “You dream of playing at a place like that and just to be able to go and do it and play with DJ is going to be so special. It’s going to be hard waiting to go play there, but it’s going to be a great experience that’s going to be a memory we’re going to have for the rest of our lives.”
