Rising Southern California Stars Eye 2025 US Open Main Draw

As the final Grand Slam of the year, the 2025 US Open, begins at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, where dreams are realized and careers are launched. Ten players with Southern California roots—by birth, residence, or college—step onto the qualifying courts starting August 18, chasing spots in the main draw beginning Sunday, August 24.

SoCal Stars Making Waves

Southern California made waves at Wimbledon qualifying this year, with Carson Branstine and August Holmgren delivering electrifying performances that hinted at bright futures.

Ranked No. 197, Branstine stunned top-seeded Lois Boisson, a French Open semifinalist, in a thrilling 6-2, 6-7(1), 6-4 battle, then followed with victories over Bianca Andreescu and Raluca Georgiana Serban to earn her Grand Slam main draw debut. Facing world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Branstine was the ultimate underdog, but she refused to go quietly, breaking serve and fighting for every point. Her fearless competitive fire promises many milestones ahead.

Off the court, the Irvine native balanced modeling and delivering for Uber Eats to chase her tennis dreams, a testament to grit, perseverance, and the courage to pursue goals no matter the odds. By the time she left Wimbledon’s grass, she had announced herself as a rising star the world will not soon forget.

Holmgren also turned heads at Wimbledon, becoming one of only two qualifiers to reach the third round. He claimed his first ATP main draw win over Quentin Halys and survived a five-set marathon against Tomas Machac, saving three match points along the way. Reflecting on the match, Holmgren said, “I thought it was a bad situation, but I kept doing the same things I had been trying. Then at 15-40, I hit a backhand I was sure was going out. It landed in somehow.” I was ready to walk to the net to shake hands.” 

Holmgren’s time at the University of San Diego shaped both his game and outlook on life, while a theatre degree helped him stay composed under pressure. His signature one-handed backhand, a flowing shot he has wielded since age six, reflects the calm and authenticity he brings to every match. Moreover, his Wimbledon run also highlighted a historic collegiate connection: he and 2022 NCAA singles champion Ben Shelton became the first NCAA men’s finalists since 1983 to both reach the third round of the same Grand Slam.

Weeks later, Holmgren captured the ATP Challenger 75 title in Granby, Canada, rising to a career-high No. 144. Now ranked No. 173, he begins his US Open qualifying campaign against San Diego native Zach Svajda, whose summer has also been remarkable. Following Wimbledon, Svajda won his first ATP Challenger 125 title at the Hall of Fame Open, dedicating the victory to his father Tom Svajda, who is battling cancer. Weeks later, he claimed the Lexington ATP Challenger 75, dedicating that win to his mother. His summer of perseverance underscores the emotional stakes behind every point he fights for.

Svajda first made waves in 2019, when at 16 he won the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championship, earning a wildcard into the US Open main draw and becoming the youngest man to compete at the tournament since Donald Young in 2005. Despite a five-set first-round loss to Paolo Lorenzi, Svajda showcased his solid groundstrokes and deft net play, announcing himself as a promising American talent. In 2021, after defending his Boys’ 18s title with a win over Ben Shelton, he earned another US Open wildcard. Ranked No. 716, he upset Marco Cecchinato to reach the second round before falling to Jannik Sinner in four tight sets, a remarkably close contest despite a 700-plus ranking difference. Now 22, Svajda will make his fifth appearance at his “home” Slam.

Another SoCal versus SoCal first-round qualifying matchup features Ena Shibahara of Rancho Palos Verdes, representing Japan, against Santa Barbara’s Kayla Day. Shibahara, a former UCLA All-American and doubles specialist with 10 WTA titles, including a Grand Slam mixed doubles championship at Roland Garros, a 2023 Australian Open doubles final, and Olympic experience, made the uncommon move of putting her elite doubles career on hold to pursue singles. 

The 27-year-old’s gamble paid off spectacularly. Starting 2024 ranked No. 581 in singles, she rebuilt her game on the ITF circuit, claiming her first pro singles title in Spring, Texas. Her efforts culminated in a remarkable US Open qualifying run: two three-set victories over Katarina Zavatska and Arianne Hartono, followed by a 3-hour, 17-minute marathon against Daria Saville, a match she described as an “emotional rollercoaster” and celebrated by falling to her knees in joy. That triumph secured her a main draw spot, where she carried her momentum into a second-round clash with Iga Swiatek. 

Shibahara’s connection with Swiatek goes back nearly a decade: in 2016, she and partner Jada Hart edged Swiatek and Kaja Juvan 6-3, 4-6, [10-4] in the US Open junior semifinals before going on to win the Girls’ doubles title. That same competitive spirit has fueled her singles rise. She adapted from the rapid, reflex-driven doubles court to the demanding physicality and coverage required in singles, relying on the weapons honed over years at the top of the doubles game. Her journey shows that taking risks, and stepping outside one’s comfort zone, can unlock a whole new dimension of greatness.

Day, a former Junior US Open champion, brings a decorated junior and professional record, including her 2016 Junior US Open singles title, Junior US Open doubles runner-up finish, Junior Wimbledon semifinals run, and the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championship. After an early Wimbledon exit in June, she reached the San Diego State University SoCal Pro Series final and won a W35 title in Mississippi, carrying strong momentum into New York. This will be her seventh US Open appearance, facing Shibahara for the first time on the WTA Tour.

Claire Liu, from Thousand Oaks, continues her consistency with six consecutive main draw appearances at the US Open. The 25-year-old faces Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa, bringing career highlights like a WTA 125 title in Paris, a final in Chicago, and a career-high ranking of No. 52.

Yannick Hanfmann, No. 134, arrives with momentum and renewed purpose. The 33-year-old German captured his first ATP Challenger title in five years at the Platzmann Open in Hagen, rallying from a set down to defeat Guy den Ouden in the final and saving match points in the second round. A former USC standout, Hanfmann reached a career-high No. 45 last summer and owns wins over Top 10 players including Taylor Fritz, Andrey Rublev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. This will be his eighth appearance in New York; he faces Spain’s Pablo Llamas Ruiz in the first round.

Amelia Honer, fresh off her senior season at UC Santa Barbara, has emerged as a rising force in collegiate and professional tennis. The Pennsylvania native earned ITA All-American honors, was named Big West Player of the Year in 2025, and claimed her first professional title at the W35 Bakersfield tournament, defeating Julieta Pareja in straight sets. In US Open qualifying, she faces Whitney Osuigwe, the former junior world No. 1 and 2017 French Open junior champion.

Pepperdine University has two representatives in the US Open qualifying draw: Janice Tjen from Indonesia and Guy den Ouden from the Netherlands. Tjen, a standout for the Waves, opens her campaign against Varvara Lepchenko. Den Ouden, also a Waves alumnus, will face Daniel Elahi Galán in the first round. Both players developed their games at Pepperdine, benefiting from the program’s emphasis on preparation, mental toughness, and experience against high-level collegiate competition, and they arrive in New York ready to test themselves on the Grand Slam stage.

From seasoned veterans to fearless newcomers, Southern California’s players bring talent, heart, and an unyielding drive to Flushing Meadows. Their stories—of struggle, sacrifice, and triumph—remind us why the US Open is more than a tournament. It is a proving ground for dreams, a celebration of resilience, and a place where the next generation of tennis stars will make their mark.