IMG Academy’s Michael Mmoh qualifies for US Open as wild card

Michael Mmoh is going back to New York.

The 18-year-old who trains at IMG Academy and is one of the top junior American players is heading to the U.S. Open after winning the Boys’ Junior National Tennis Championship on Sunday in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Mmoh, an 18-year-old who was born in Saudi Arabia and previously lived in Washington, D.C., before coming to Bradenton, swept Tampa resident Vasil Kirkov 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in the championship of the Junior National Championship at Kalamazoo College.

The wild-card entry puts Mmoh in the U.S. Open singles draw for the first time. He lost in the first round of qualifying for last year’s U.S. Open after reaching the quarterfinals of the Boys’ Junior National Tennis Championships. He was ranked No. 2 in the junior men ranks by the International Tennis Federation at that time.

Mmoh has played in the junior draws of all four Grand Slam tournament. His best finish came in the 2015 French Open, at which he reached the semifinals. He is currently ranked 376th in the world with a career 13-8 record.

The Ascender has been one of the most successful juniors of the past few years, claiming five junior titles and posting a 5-1 record in finals. Mmoh’s most recent triumph prior to Sunday’s came in March when he won the United States F11 by beating Casper Ruud in straight sets.

In addition to Mmoh, 16-year-old Kayla Day earned a wild-card entry into the women’s draw when she beat 18-year-old Nicole Frenkel 6-2. 3-6, 6-1, in the girls final. Day a resident of Santa Barbara, Calif. reached the girls semifinals at Wimbledon this summer.

The U.S. Open draw has not yet been announced. The tournament is scheduled to begin Aug. 29 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, N.Y.

This story was originally published August 14, 2016 at 10:13 PM with the headline "IMG Academy’s Michael Mmoh qualifies for US Open as wild card."