USTA Announces 1st Wild Card Selection

The United States Tennis Association has announced that Blake Strode will fill the first wild card spot at the LG&T Tennis Challenger, to be held at Rec Park in Binghamton August 8th through the 16th. Strode is a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas, where he advanced to the semi-finals in this year’s NCAA Tennis Tournament.

Additional facts on Blake Strode:

  • 22 years old, born 7/9/87 in St Louis Mo., 6’2’’, 175 lbs.
  • Was the winner of the Joplin Mo USA Futures Tournament this past July 20, in only his 3rd professional tournament.
  • Was a finalist in his second pro tournament, the Pennsylvania Futures tournament on July 6th. Reached the semi-finals in the 2009 NCAA Collegiate Tournament, and completed his college career with a #13 national NCAA ranking.
  • Graduated this past May from the University of Arkansas, with a double major in International Economics and Spanish, and a GPA of 3.976.
  • His father was a pitcher on the University of Kentucky baseball team, and played AAA baseball. Strode is this year’s recipient of the ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship. He will receive this award by being honored at center court at the US Open this August 29, during the Arthur Ashe Kids Day festivities.

Three more wild cards will be announced for the LG&T Tournament, 1 by the United States Tennis Association, and 2 by the LG&T board of directors.