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Ocala will be represented this year at tennis biggest event in America.
DJ Bennett, a graduate of Belleview High School, and teammate Ava Esposito have earned a wild-card entry into the 2026 U.S. Open women’s doubles main draw. The duo, which play at Auburn University, won the USTA American Collegiate Wildcard Playoff last week.
Bennett, a senior, and Esposito, a junior, will become the first Auburn women’s tennis players to appear in a Grand Slam event at the U.S. Open.
The 2026 U.S. Open women’s doubles main draw is scheduled for Sept. 3-11 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
[IMG alt="AUBURN, AL - MAY 01 - Auburn's DJ Bennett - (2) Auburn Tigers vs. Bryant Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, AL on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ocala-star-banner/a92c2997da7cc6c8beb4a9f3bef04bb5[/IMG]
In the final, Bennett and Esposito faced Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton of North Carolina. After dropping the first set 6-4, the Auburn pair rallied to win the second set 6-3 and 7-5 victory in the third set.
“Honestly, I’m at a loss for words,” Bennett said. “I’m just really proud of myself and proud of Ava for pulling it out. Losing the first set and being down 2-0, it’s not easy to come back from that, and I think it just shows how hard we work. We were taking care of what we could take care of and let our tennis do the talking.”
“I’m just really proud of us,” Esposito said. “It’s really rewarding with all of the work we’ve put in, and I’m lucky to be able to play with DJ and end the night on a good note. Just proud overall and can’t wait to play in New York.”
[IMG alt="AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 22 - Auburn’s DJ Bennett during the Women's Tennis Asset Day on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.
Photo by David Gray/Auburn Tigers
(For INFLU - Zach Bland)"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ocala-star-banner/d25c04342245e414dc55dcc58b1da70d[/IMG]
Bennett and Esposito began their playoff run against Jessica Bernales and Lily Jones of Michigan. After winning the first set 6-3, they dropped the second but managed to clinch the match in a third-set tiebreaker, winning five consecutive points to advance to the final.
During the 2025-26 season, the duo became the highest-ranked doubles team in Auburn program history, reaching No. 2 in the nation on April 14. They finished the season ranked No. 3 nationally, with a 17-4 record in dual matches, eight ranked victories, and two wins over top-10 opponents. Both players earned ITA Doubles All-America honors.
This story was created by Jared Greenleaf ([email protected]) with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing, and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical conduct.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Auburn tennis' DJ Bennett, Ava Esposito earn spots in U.S. Open women's doubles
Continue reading...
DJ Bennett, a graduate of Belleview High School, and teammate Ava Esposito have earned a wild-card entry into the 2026 U.S. Open women’s doubles main draw. The duo, which play at Auburn University, won the USTA American Collegiate Wildcard Playoff last week.
Bennett, a senior, and Esposito, a junior, will become the first Auburn women’s tennis players to appear in a Grand Slam event at the U.S. Open.
The 2026 U.S. Open women’s doubles main draw is scheduled for Sept. 3-11 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
[IMG alt="AUBURN, AL - MAY 01 - Auburn's DJ Bennett - (2) Auburn Tigers vs. Bryant Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, AL on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ocala-star-banner/a92c2997da7cc6c8beb4a9f3bef04bb5[/IMG]
A comeback victory
In the final, Bennett and Esposito faced Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton of North Carolina. After dropping the first set 6-4, the Auburn pair rallied to win the second set 6-3 and 7-5 victory in the third set.
“Honestly, I’m at a loss for words,” Bennett said. “I’m just really proud of myself and proud of Ava for pulling it out. Losing the first set and being down 2-0, it’s not easy to come back from that, and I think it just shows how hard we work. We were taking care of what we could take care of and let our tennis do the talking.”
“I’m just really proud of us,” Esposito said. “It’s really rewarding with all of the work we’ve put in, and I’m lucky to be able to play with DJ and end the night on a good note. Just proud overall and can’t wait to play in New York.”
Road to the final
[IMG alt="AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 22 - Auburn’s DJ Bennett during the Women's Tennis Asset Day on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.
Photo by David Gray/Auburn Tigers
(For INFLU - Zach Bland)"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/ocala-star-banner/d25c04342245e414dc55dcc58b1da70d[/IMG]
Bennett and Esposito began their playoff run against Jessica Bernales and Lily Jones of Michigan. After winning the first set 6-3, they dropped the second but managed to clinch the match in a third-set tiebreaker, winning five consecutive points to advance to the final.
During the 2025-26 season, the duo became the highest-ranked doubles team in Auburn program history, reaching No. 2 in the nation on April 14. They finished the season ranked No. 3 nationally, with a 17-4 record in dual matches, eight ranked victories, and two wins over top-10 opponents. Both players earned ITA Doubles All-America honors.
This story was created by Jared Greenleaf ([email protected]) with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing, and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical conduct.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Auburn tennis' DJ Bennett, Ava Esposito earn spots in U.S. Open women's doubles
Continue reading...
