Connecticut and Branford resident Ava Esposito will be representing Auburn University playing in the 2026 U.S. Open women’s doubles championship in Queens, New York.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Amason/Auburn University
Ava Esposito of Branford will be competing in the 2026 U.S Open women’s doubles championship in Queens, New York. Esposito is a senior at Auburn University.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Amason/Auburn University
Ava Esposito recalls attending the U.S. Open tennis championships with her friends on several occasions. Now, she has earned an opportunity to play in the event.
A rising senior at Auburn University and a Connecticut native, Esposito will compete in the U.S. Open’s women’s doubles draw, which begins Sept. 3 in Queens, New York.
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“I’ve gone to watch so many times,” Esposito said. “It’s so close to home. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Esposito, a Branford resident, and Auburn teammate DJ Bennett won the USTA American Collegiate Wildcard Playoff to gain entry into the U.S. Open main draw.
The Tigers’ duo defeated Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton of North Carolina in a three-set championship match.
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“For me to play for something bigger than yourself, a place you really love, is really special,” said Esposito of representing Auburn at the Open.
Esposito and Bennett will become the first Auburn women’s tennis players to compete in a Grand Slam event at the U.S. Open. The two were ranked as high as No. 2 nationally, a program record.
Auburn women’s tennis coach Jordan Szabo understands the importance of the opportunity to play in a Grand Slam event.
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“It’s such a big event, an amazing accomplishment, an amazing opportunity to experience no matter how it goes,” Szabo said.
The 5-foot-11 Esposito has competed every semester since arriving at the Tigers’ campus in 2023. In the spring of 2025, she competed in a combined 65 singles and doubles matches, winning 40 of them.
In last fall’s NCAA singles championship, Esposito reached the Round of 16 to achieve All-American status. She went 30-6 in singles this past spring, usually at either the No. 5 or 6 position in Auburn’s lineup.
She also went 22-8 at No. 1 doubles to earn All-American laurels with Bennett, who will be playing her last match for the Tigers at the Open. Bennett has already been named an assistant coach at Auburn.
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“I don’t think it will feel any different. I’ve been teammates with DJ for such a long time. It feels the same as it always does,” Esposito said. “I can’t wait to play with her, to be a part of her last tennis match.”
Said Szabo: “It’s a great way to end your tennis career at the U.S. Open.”
Szabo, who said he will be able to coach the duo during their stay at the Open, usually attends the event because it’s a prime time for college coaches to recruit.
The plan is for Esposito and Bennett to “get up to New York three or four days before they play to get used to the conditions, the court, the weather, the surroundings. It’s something new being in that environment.”
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Esposito’s family and friends will soon get the opportunity to see her play in her first Grand Slam event on her home turf.
“Hopefully, she will be back there eventually as a pro one day,” Szabo said.