US Open wild card for Burdette

Mallory Burdette: Granted US Open wild card

American Mallory Burdette has been handed a wild card for this month's US Open.

Burdette earned her place in the main draw at Flushing Meadows courtesy of her performances on the USTA Pro Circuit in recent weeks.

The USTA had vowed to award a wild card to the women who collected the most ranking points from events in Yakima, Lexington and Vancouver.

And following her 6-3 6-0 victory over compatriot Jessica Pegula in Sunday's final at the VanOpen, that person was Burdette.

The 21-year-old had missed out on a wild card earlier in the year when she lost in the final of the NCAA college tournament to Nicole Gibbs.

Speaking after her win, Burdette, who posted a victory over Briton Anne Keothavong in the recent WTA tournament in Stanford, said: "I didn't know (about winning the wild card) until my coach came over.

"It's pretty exciting and I feel like I've got a second shot at it after losing the finals of NCAAs and working so hard this summer."