NCAA Standouts Awarded Wild Cards

Jamere Jenkins and Dennis Novikov have been awarded a wild card entry into the 2013 tournament.

Jenkins, 22, recently graduated from the University of Virginia where he led the Cavaliers to the 2013 NCAA Championship. The College Park, Ga. native was named the NCAA tournament MVP after capturing the doubles title and finishing as the runner-up in the individual draw. Jenkins is currently ranked No. 654 in the world and is fresh off a victory at the Linda Bogdan Memorial Futures Tournament in Rochester, N.Y. two weeks ago. The two-time All-American finished his senior year ranked No. 1 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings and was recently named the ITA National College Player of the Year.

Novikov, 19, recently finished his sophomore year at UCLA where he helped the Bruins record a runner-up finish in the 2013 NCAA Championship. The Moscow native won the singles and doubles USTA Boys’ 18 National Championship in 2012 earning a wild card spot in the singles and doubles main draw of the US Open. Novikov advanced to the second round of the US Open in both the singles and doubles main draw. The six-foot-three righty has climbed more than 500 spots in the ATP rankings since August 2012.

Jenkins and Novikov have a history together as the duo met in the 2013 NCAA Team Championship. Jenkins ranked No. 3 in the nation, faced off against Novikov (No. 27) in the top singles match, emerging victorious 7-6(3), 6-3. The pair also faced off in the first doubles of the Championship with Jenkins again getting the better of Novikov.