Murphy Cassone Qualifies for US Open
TEMPE - The hottest freshman in the country, Murphy Cassone, earned a wildcard bid to the U.S. Open and will begin play in New York on August 23 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in his first ever Grand Slam. Cassone has been an unstoppable force for the past year, sweeping the college competition and tearing up the pro courts this summer.
The 2022 US Open begins Aug. 29 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, while qualifying rounds begin the 23rd and continue through the 26th. Cassone is one of nine American men to receive a wildcard bid into the qualifying tournament.
US Open release
"Finding out I made it to the Open today- I'm just super grateful and looking forward to playing," Cassone said. "It's been one of my dreams ever since I was a little kid. Last fall and winter every time I would go to practice I would tell myself 'Practice like you're playing the US Open' or 'Practice like you're preparing for the US Open,' and ever since I started doing that everything started clicking more and I stayed more focused, but I don't know if I ever truly believed that this would happen and I would be here so early."
"It speaks volumes to the work Murphy's been putting in in the last year and his ability to take full advantage of opportunities available to him at the USTA Summer Team," head coach Matt Hill said. "Not everyone gets those opportunities from the UTSA and he's used those chances well to put himself in this opportunity with the US Open. It's incredibly exciting for a 20 year old to play in a major Grand Slam."
Cassone's skill and growth has had a near-vertical trajectory since he stepped on Arizona State's campus last year. He went 15-5 in singles and including a perfect 9-0 in Pac-12 play, peaked at No. 17 in the ITA rankings, earned ITA Rookie of the Year, and defeated four top-10 opponents en route to reaching round one of the NCAA Singles Championship. He kept the streak going and earned 17 wins on the ATP pro tour, including a sweep at the M25 Columbus. Cassone's victims this summer include 2021 NCAA singles national champion Sam Riffice of Florida who Cassone defeated twice. His efforts early into the summer earned him a spot on the USTA Collegiate Summer Team too, making him one of just two men from the Pac-12 to reach the prestigious training team.
Murphy Cassone Makes USTA Collegiate Summer Team
A Look Back at Year One with Murphy Cassone
"My goal is to qualify and take it one match at a time and do everything in my power to win every match," Cassone said. "But the main goal is to qualify and reach the main draw, and then the next goal is to win a round in the main draw."