18 Team SoCal Stars Headed to the
2025 US Open Singles Draws

SoCal Set to Shine with US Open Main Draw Wild Cards 

Southern California is well-represented at the 2025 US Open, with a mix of rising stars and legendary names earning coveted main draw wild cards.

Emilio Nava, 23, is riding one of the hottest streaks of his young career. The Woodland Hills native reached a career-high world No. 101 last week, just shy of breaking into the top 100. He earned his US Open main draw wild card by winning the USTA US Open Wild Card Challenge and enters New York fresh off back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 events, including a third-round run in Toronto and a second-round showing in Cincinnati.

This year has been a breakthrough season for Nava. He captured three consecutive ATP Challenger titles and a second-round run at Roland Garros via the USTA Wild Card Challenge. Known for his fearless, attacking style and poise under pressure, Nava will open against fellow SoCal and top American Taylor Fritz, an early clash fans won’t want to miss.

Beyond the rankings and titles, he is playing for something bigger: honoring the spirit of Live Like Braun, a local movement inspired by Braun Levi, a young athlete whose courage and love for tennis continue to inspire the Southern California community. Fans in New York can expect a high-octane showdown, with Nava’s momentum and aggressive serve meeting Fritz’s experience and firepower.

With his game clicking at just the right time, Nava enters the US Open ready to make a statement, and carry forward the inspiration of a young life lived with heart.

Irvine’s Stefan Dostanic, also 23, makes his Grand Slam main draw debut after winning the inaugural American Collegiate Wild Card Playoffs in Orlando, defeating Michael Zheng 6-1, 6-4. A former USC Trojan who finished his collegiate career at Wake Forest, Dostanic led the Demon Deacons to ITA and NCAA titles while earning Most Outstanding Player and NCAA Tournament MVP honors.

Just last week, he proved ready for the next level at the Winston-Salem Open, held at his alma mater. In his ATP Tour debut, Dostanic upset world No. 93 Aleksandar Vukic 6-4, 6-2 before pushing defending champion and world No. 35 Lorenzo Sonego to the brink in a three-set thriller, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-7(7). This capped two years of steady progress, during which he won four ITF World Tennis Tour singles titles, including the 2023 Lakewood SoCal Pro Series that earned him the “Race to Indian Wells” Qualifying Wild Card for the 2024 BNP Paribas Open.

Now ranked No. 389, Dostanic opens against former Texas Longhorn and world No. 128 Elliot Spizzirri. A win could set up a clash with No. 32 seed Luciano Darderi or Rinky Hijikata, with world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz potentially looming in the third round.

“It’s really the big show to be in the US Open, so it’s exciting for sure,” Dostanic said. “There’s a lot of losing in pro tennis, and it’s a roller coaster of emotions along the way. There will be a lot to get used to, but that’s part of the change as I enter a new stage in my tennis life.”

Altadena’s Tristan Boyer, 24, ranked No. 116, makes his US Open main draw debut after a breakout season. He notched his first tour-level win at the Australian Open and added victories at three ATP Masters 1000 events: Indian Wells, Toronto, and Cincinnati. Boyer opens against Australian veteran James Duckworth in a challenging first-round test.

Tennis legend Venus Williams returns to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with a wild card, marking her record-extending 25th US Open singles appearance—a feat that cements her as an enduring part of Flushing Meadows’ history. She will take the court Monday night against Czech No. 11 seed Karolína Muchová, the 2023 French Open runner-up who has twice reached the US Open semifinals, in what promises to be a captivating clash of experience and talent.

A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, including two US Open titles, Williams won her first singles match in over a year last month at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, becoming the oldest player to win a WTA Tour-level singles match in more than two decades. She also competed in the reimagined mixed doubles championship alongside Reilly Opelka.

Alongside her sister Serena, Williams has inspired generations of players, particularly Black athletes, including 2023 USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ Nationals champion Clervie Ngounoue. Reflecting on her career, she said, “As a young person, I wanted to play the game, be a champion. I loved the game so much, I didn’t realize that it would be so much bigger than myself. Seeing these young women doing positive things with their life, winning tournaments, inspiring the next generation, too… it’s beautiful.”

Two years removed from her last Grand Slam match and ranked No. 610 in the world, Williams’ return is a celebration of resilience, legacy, and unmatched longevity. At 45, she remains as formidable and inspiring as ever, a living icon at the heart of Arthur Ashe Stadium and the sport itself.

The US Open will also spotlight the next generation of talent. Julieta Pareja, 16, currently the world No. 1 junior, reached the girls’ singles and doubles finals at Wimbledon and climbed to a career-best professional ranking of No. 317 following a WTA 250 semifinal run in Bogota, Colombia. She will face the No. 9 seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, currently ranked No. 10 in the world, in the opening round. Meanwhile, Alyssa Ahn, 18, a San Diego native and the winner of the Girls’ 18s National Championships, is set to join Stanford this fall and will open her US Open campaign against 19th seed Elise Mertens, world No. 21 and a two-time US Open quarterfinalist.

Learner Tien: Power Meets Poise

Irvine’s Learner Tien is already a hard-court powerhouse. A former world No. 4 junior, Tien has made three consecutive US Open main draw appearances and twice won the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships at 16 and 17. He first gained attention in 2022 by winning Kalamazoo and becoming the youngest player in the US Open men’s draw since Donald Young, then returned in 2023 to defend his title with a commanding win over Trevor Svajda. Though he fell in the US Open men’s first round that year to Frances Tiafoe, he made an impressive run to the junior Grand Slam final, finishing runner-up to João Fonseca. Last summer, Tien secured his third main draw spot via the USTA US Open Wild Card Challenge, falling in four sets to Arthur Fils. It’s not common for a 19-year-old to make a fourth main-draw US Open appearance, but Tien has already proven himself an uncommon talent.

This season has been a breakthrough. Tien reached a career-high No. 48 and posted his best Grand Slam result by advancing to the fourth round at the Australian Open, including a five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev. In February, he notched a signature win over world No. 2 Alexander Zverev to reach the Acapulco quarterfinals, becoming the youngest American to win his first two matches against Top-5 opponents since Jimmy Connors. Additional top-10 victories came at Mallorca against Ben Shelton and in Washington against Andrey Rublev, highlighting a rare combination of power, precision, and composure for someone his age.

Now Tien faces the ultimate challenge: a first-round showdown with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. The two have never met, making this opening-night clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium a compelling matchup of rising talent versus all-time greatness. The aptly named Learner is indeed a quick study on the court, and it seems only a matter of time before the student becomes the teacher. For the young Southern Californian, it’s the chance of a lifetime to step onto the biggest stage in the sport against a player he has admired growing up, a member of the “Big Three” who defined his childhood view of tennis.

With multiple US Open appearances under his belt, high-profile wins this season, and a mature, left-handed game, Tien has already shown he belongs at the highest level. Sunday night’s match could be the moment where the world takes notice.

Taylor Fritz: Rewriting the Script  

Rancho Santa Fe’s Taylor Fritz is rewriting the script for American men’s tennis. Earlier this month, he became the first American to reach the quarterfinals of all nine Masters 1000 tournaments. With a semifinal run at the Canada Open, he now needs just Cincinnati and Paris to complete the set.

Coming off a landmark US Open final in 2024—the first by an American man in 15 years—Fritz has shown that wasn’t just a breakthrough; it was the start of something bigger.

At Wimbledon, he powered through the draw with the same confidence that fueled his grass-court titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne. Fritz reached his first semifinal at the All England Club, becoming the first American man to reach the Wimbledon final four since John Isner in 2018. More impressively, he’s now the only active American man to reach the semifinals of a non-hardcourt major, proving he’s a genuine multi-surface threat.

On Centre Court against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, Fritz served 95 aces (second-most in the tournament) and held serve in 93% of his service games, displaying unflinching resilience.

In a four-set thriller under 88-degree skies, Fritz bounced back after dropping the first set, taking the second—his first set off Alcaraz in three meetings—and battled fiercely in the fourth-set tiebreak with blistering 140mph serves and precision backhands. Though he fell short, the performance cemented his place as a champion in waiting.

“Taylor, well done, you are paving the way for every American to believe they can and should expect more from themselves,” said Andre Agassi.

As the No. 1 American man and a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist in less than a year, Taylor Fritz stands on the brink of something extraordinary. The droughts are ending, and belief is surging. With his only Grand Slam final appearance coming at last year’s event, this could very well be the year he turns the page and captures his first major title.

Brandon Holt: Resilience and Comeback

Rolling Hills native Brandon Holt, 27, reached a career-high ranking of No. 99 earlier this summer. His journey hasn’t been without hurdles—he missed much of 2021 due to a benign tumor in his right hand—but the comeback shaped his resilience.

Holt made his US Open main draw debut in 2022, famously upsetting Taylor Fritz, then world No. 12, in the first round after qualifying. This year, he returns for the first time since that breakthrough, earning direct entry after Matteo Berrettini’s withdrawal. He opens against No. 42 Nuno Borges.

“It’s a validation of the hard work and progress I’ve made since 2022,” he said. “The energy at this tournament is unmatched. At this point in my career, it’s not just about getting into these events—it’s about making deeper runs and competing with confidence at this level.” Breaking into the top 100 earlier this year reinforced that belief: “It helps give me the confidence that I can beat anyone out here,” he added.

While his upset over Fritz remains a career highlight, Holt sees himself as a more mature, well-rounded player: “I’ve improved in nearly every area, and I’m continuing to build on that foundation with every match.”

The US Open also carries deep personal meaning for Holt’s family. His mother, Tracy Austin, is still the youngest US Open women’s singles champion, having won the title at just 16. Having grown up attending the tournament, Holt says it will always be a special place for him. 

Alex Michelsen: Young Firepower 

At just 20, Alex Michelsen is already one of American tennis’ most exciting young stars. This year, he reached his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal at the Canada Open, defeating close friend Learner Tien and becoming the youngest American man to reach a Masters 1000 quarterfinal in Toronto since Andy Roddick in 2003. It marked the 15th and most significant quarterfinal of his young career.

Michelsen combines competitive fire with a vibrant off-court personality, fueled by a love of video games and Star Wars. He reached a career-high ranking inside the top 30 this season, highlighted by a fourth-round showing at the Australian Open, a quarterfinal in Tokyo, and multiple top-20 wins.

Seeded 28th at this year’s US Open, the Aliso Viejo native will open against No. 54 Francisco Comesana. In his previous two US Open main draw appearances, he reached the second round, and now he’ll look to push even deeper.

Brandon Nakashima Returns

San Diego native Brandon Nakashima returns to the US Open with some of his best tennis memories still fresh. Just a year ago, the now-24-year-old stunned Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti in a breakout run to the fourth round, igniting electric atmospheres on Court 17 that he still calls some of his favorite matches.

The world No. 31 now arrives in New York eager to channel the energy of American fans once again. For Nakashima, the US Open has always carried a special weight—from his wild card debut in qualifying at just 16, to soaking in the roar of New York crowds that, in his words, “go crazy for the US players.”

This time, he opens against Jesper De Jong in their first career ATP meeting, looking to build on last year’s breakthrough and deliver another memorable run at his home major.

Teen Talent Iva Jovic

Torrance native Iva Jovic is no stranger to the Grand Slam stage. Just 17, she made a splash with debut wins at the 2024 US Open and 2025 Australian Open, fueled by USTA wild cards and a history of junior success that includes reaching the quarters at Roland Garros and semis at Wimbledon, as well as multiple junior doubles titles.

Jovic’s success at the junior level laid the foundation for a seamless transition to the professional circuit. She’s already notched wins over former Top 50 players and delivered strong performances against seeded opponents, showcasing her poise and competitive instinct. Versatile across surfaces, Jovic has excelled on both hard courts and clay, claiming her first professional title at the USTA Pro Circuit W100 event in Charlottesville.

Now at the US Open, Jovic faces Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round, ready to continue her steady rise and establish herself as one of Southern California’s brightest young stars on the world stage.

Former College Stars Ready to Make US Open Bids 

Former UCLA teammates Marcos Giron (No. 55) and Mackenzie “Mackie” McDonald (No. 100) bring both experience and firepower to this year’s US Open draw. Both are making their eighth appearances at Flushing Meadows, with Giron, the 32-year-old from Thousand Oaks, reaching the second round in 2020 and 2021. Known for his steady baseline game and consistency, Giron also advanced to the round of 16 at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 earlier this year, proving he can compete with the sport’s elite. He opens against No. 78 Mariano Navone, offering a chance to bounce back from their recent clash at the Winston-Salem Open. McDonald, a former NCAA standout, has twice reached the second round at the Open (2021, 2023) and will face qualifier and world No. 144 Jan-Lennard Struff, bringing his aggressive all-court game and sharp shot-making to the matchup.

Pepperdine alum and Egypt native Mayar Sherif returns to the US Open for her fifth singles appearance, carrying a wealth of experience from both the WTA Tour and Grand Slam stage. She’ll face last year’s finalist and No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula, an opportunity to challenge herself against one of the world’s top players while showcasing the powerful, versatile game that has made her a consistent presence in major draws.

Qualifying Wrap Up

Three SoCal natives earned their spots in the US Open main draw after flawless qualifying campaigns, each winning all three matches in straight sets.

San Diego’s Zach Svajda, 22, cruised past USD’s August Holmgren, Beibit Zhukayev, and Marc-Andrea Hüsler to reach the main draw, where he will face No. 156 Zsombor Piros in the first round.

Rancho Palos Verdes’ Ena Shibahara, who represents Japan, also advanced with straight-set wins over Santa Barbara’s Kayla Day, Elena Pridankina, and No. 6 qualifying seed Varvara Gracheva. Making her second US Open women’s singles main draw appearance, Shibahara will face 2021 champion Emma Raducanu in round one.

Thousand Oaks’ Claire Liu followed suit, defeating Katarzyna Kawa, Maddison Inglis, and Veronika Erjavec. She opens her main draw campaign against Cristina Bucșa.

Pepperdine alum and Indonesia native Janice Tjen completed the SoCal sweep, taking out Varvara Lepchenko, Maja Chwalińska, and No. 3 seed Aoi Ito in straight sets. Making her Grand Slam main draw debut, she will face No. 24 seed Veronika Kudermetova in the first round.

Several Team SoCal players fought through US Open qualifying but fell short of the main draw. Irvine’s Carson Branstine lost a three-set opener to Wang Xiyu, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6. Pepperdine’s Guy den Ouden fell to Daniel Elahi Galán, 1-6, 5-7, and former USC star Yannick Hanfmann lost 6-1, 3-6, 4-6 to Pablo Llamas Ruiz. UC Santa Barbara’s Amelia Honer beat Whitney Osuigwe 6-2, 6-3 before retiring in a third-set battle with Katie Volynets.