*Tennis champ Roger Federer previously called for the Women’s Tennis Association to loosen the rules surrounding its age-eligibility after 15-year-old Cori Gauff’s sensational Wimbledon run.
WTA implemented a rule in 1994 that 15-year-olds can only play 10 tournaments per year. This was established to protect young players from burnout. Gauff became the darling of Wimbledon when she defeated Venus Williams and made it to the fourth round — making her the youngest woman to win a Wimbledon match since 1991.
OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Comedian Jerrod Carmichael Admits ‘I’ve Hooked Up With Dudes Before’
? still can’t get used to seeing my own interviews?? https://t.co/sT66V00pFN
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) July 2, 2019
Now, US Open officials are planning to “bend the rules” in order to get Gauff a spot in the final grand slam of the year, per Yahoo Sports.
According to the New York Post, officials may give a wildcard to Gauff, but the budding tennis star has already accepted the three wildcards allotted for the year, using them at the Miami Open, French Open qualifiers and Wimbledon qualifiers.
“We would expect to see Coco in the main draw of the US Open,’’ USTA director of communications Chris Widmaier told The Post.
“She certainly won the hearts of tennis fans in our country with her Wimbledon performance.
“It’s not every day an athlete of her age becomes water-cooler talk.”
Widmaier believes the US Open will be “exempt” from the WTA’s age rule.
“The US Open, as a Grand Slam, reserves the right to not align with the Age Eligibility Rule and offer a player a Wild Card in excess of her limit per the Age Eligibility Rule,’’ the WTA spokesperson reportedly said.
Gauff is only allowed to play 10 pro events until her 16th birthday, but WTA has allowed her to play up to 12 due to her stellar performances at the junior level.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
