Black Tennis Pros

In just as beautiful and spectacular style as the 2008 Beijing Olympics opened, China's Closing Ceremony had the same incredible grandeur. With 49 gold medals and number two in the overall medal count (the U.S. is number one), China seems to have hosted a very successful Olympics.

A talented group of Americans consisting of Amer Delic (Jacksonville, Fla.), Brendan Evans (Key Biscayne, Fla.), Scoville Jenkins (Atlanta), Austin Krajicek (Bryan, Texas), Jesse Levine (Boca Raton, Fla.), and Sam Warburg (Sacramento, Calif.), along with two international players, Carsten Ball (Australia) and Laurent Recouderc (France), have been awarded men’s singles main draw wild card entries into the 2008 US Open Tennis Championships, which will be played August 25 – September 7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.

Jenkins, 21, of Atlanta, is at a career-high ranking of No. 195. He advanced to the main draw of the 2008 French Open after winning three qualifying matches, including a victory over top 100 player Kevin Anderson. On the USTA Pro Circuit, he recently reached the final at $50,000 Winnetka, Ill. and the semifinals at $75,000 Aptos, Calif., in back-to-back events in July. In 2007, Jenkins reached the main draw of the 2007 US Open through qualifying, losing in the first round to eventual champion Roger Federer.

Shenay Perry of the United States was impressive throughout the qualifying tournament. The 24-year-old from Coral Springs, Fla., did not drop a set in her three matches and moved on to her fifth US Open with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over No. 17 Olga Savchuk of Ukraine.