The kickoff of the 2015 US Open will grace Trojan fans with some familiar faces. This year’s tournament features some standout USC tennis stars who have achieved great success for the men’s and women’s tennis programs.

 

As the 2013 NCAA Doubles Champions, Kaitlyn Christian and Sabrina Santamaria earned a wildcard into the US Open double draw. After being unable to take advantage of their spot in the previous years’ draws, the two Women of Troy are finally making their US Open debut this week. Christian and Santamaria are lined up to face top seeds Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza. Ranked #1 in singles and doubles during her USC career, Santamaria was sidelined for half of her junior season at USC due to a torn ACL, but returned for her senior season last year to help the Women of Troy to a run to the NCAA Semifinals and another round of All-American honors for Santamaria.

 

Also in the women’s doubles draw, USC’s 2011 ITA National Player of the Year Maria Sanchez is paired with partner Asia Muhammad to go up against Australians Jarmila Gajdosova and Ajla Tomljanovic. Sanchez also competed in the women’s singles qualifying rounds, but fell short of a spot in the singles main draw.

 

On the men’s side, back-to-back NCAA Singles champ Steve Johnson will take the court in singles and in doubles. He’s up against No. 32 seed Fabio Fognini of Italy today (Aug. 31) in the first round of the main draw. Johnson will also pair with fellow Southern California native Sam Querrey to battle famed top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan when men’s doubles play gets underway. Another Trojan NCAA champ, Robert Farah, is half of the No. 14 seeded Colombian pair in the men’s draw. A 2008 NCAA Doubles champion, Farah teams with countryman Juan Sebastian Cabal to face Americans Denis Kudla and Tim Smyzcek in the first round. 

 

To follow the Trojans in action in New York, visit usopen.org