The city of Pittsburgh will be well represented at this years US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Two young tennis stars, Bjorn Fratangelo, 22, and Alison Riske, 25, both still call Pittsburgh home today. With players coming from all over the world to compete, it is rare to find two young players from the same neighborhood.
At 22, Fratangelo has already accomplished a lot. In 2011 he became only the second American junior to win the Boys’ French Open Singles title. The other was John McEnroe.
This year he has reached the final of the $50,000 Challenger in Binghamton, New York, and the semifinals of the $100,000 Challenger in Aptos, California. By playing in these tournaments he accumulated 83 points in the USTA Pro Circuit Wildcard Challenge and received a wildcard spot into the main draw of the US Open. This will be Frantangelo’s Grand Slam debut.
On the more experienced side, Riske will be playing in her fourth US Open and is no stranger in New York. In 2013 she made it to the fourth round of the Open after upsetting former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová. Riske is currently ranked 51st in the world in women’s singles and has played in every Grand Slam tournament.
Both Fratangelo and Riske are setting expectations high and hope to bring a trophy back home to Pittsburgh.
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