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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.<\/p>\n
Photo courtesy of Olivia Amason\/Auburn University<\/p>\n
Ava Esposito of Branford will be competing in the 2026 U.S\u00a0 Open women’s doubles championship in Queens, New York. Esposito is a senior at Auburn University.<\/p>\n
Photo courtesy of Olivia Amason\/Auburn University<\/p>\n
Ava Esposito recalls attending the U.S. Open tennis<\/a> championships with her friends on several occasions. Now, she has earned an opportunity to play in the event.<\/p>\n A rising senior at Auburn University and a Connecticut native,\u00a0Esposito will\u00a0compete in the U.S. Open\u2019s women\u2019s doubles draw<\/a>, which begins Sept. 3 in Queens, New York.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve gone to watch so many times,\u201d Esposito said. \u201cIt\u2019s so close to home. I couldn\u2019t be more excited.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Tigers\u2019 duo defeated\u00a0Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton of North Carolina in a three-set championship match.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cFor me to play for something bigger than yourself, a place you really love, is really special,\u201d said\u00a0Esposito of representing Auburn at the Open.\u00a0<\/p>\n Esposito and Bennett will become the first Auburn women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Auburn women\u2019s tennis coach Jordan\u00a0Szabo understands the importance of the opportunity to play in a Grand Slam event.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s such a big event, an amazing accomplishment, an amazing opportunity to experience no matter how it goes,\u201d\u00a0Szabo said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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