Aug. 18, 2006

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Former Illini Ryler DeHeart and Rajeev Ram both earned wild cards, while 2003 Illini Amer Delic garnered an automatic spot into the US Open qualifying tournament announced the USTA on Aug. 18. DeHeart, Delic and Ram, should they advance through the qualifying tournament that begins on Aug. 22, look to earn a spot into the US Open main draw. The US Open, a two-week long tournament held in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., begins Aug. 28 and runs through Sept. 10.

"I'm extremely pleased for Ryler, Rajeev and Amer to receive these opportunities," head coach Brad Dancer said. "It reflects the commitments all of them had made to their careers. This will be a new stage for Ryler in his progress to meeting his long-term professional goals."

The US Open Men's Singles Championship is presented by Lexus. Both the men and women's US Open singles champions will earn $1.2 million with the ability to earn an additional $1 million in bonus prize money (for a total $2.2 million potential payout) based on their performances in the US Open Series. In addition, both US Open singles champions will receive a new Lexus GS 450h automobile.

DeHeart, Delic and Ram also enter the 128-competitor qualifying tournament looking to move through the bracket, vying for one of the 16 spots that advances into the main draw. Draws for the 2006 US Open qualifying tournament will be announced on Monday, Aug. 21, by the USTA, and can be viewed at www.usopen.org.

The 2006 US Open will be held Monday, Aug. 28 through Sunday, Sept. 10 at the recently renamed USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Tickets for the 2006 US Open can be purchased four ways: 1) at usopen.org; 2) by calling Ticketmaster at 1-866-OPEN-TIX; 3) at all Ticketmaster outlets; or 4) at the USTA National Tennis Center box office.