DJ Bennett’s Remarkable Achievement
DJ Bennett, a talented former tennis player from Belleview, has recently achieved a remarkable feat while representing Auburn University. In November, she reached the finals of the NCAA singles tournament, an achievement that would have guaranteed her a spot in the main draw of the U.S. Open. However, due to recent revisions made by the College International Tennis Association regarding the NCAA tennis calendar, Bennett will participate in the 2025 American Collegiate Wildcard Playoff.
Competition Landscape
This upcoming playoff will see her competing alongside other notable players like Texas A&M’s Mary Stoiana, who currently ranks 262nd in the world, UCSB’s Amelia Honer, and Valerie Glozman from Stanford. Notably, Bennett stands out as the only participant to qualify in both singles and doubles events.
“It’s incredible to see someone come from the Belleview area, which isn’t exactly known for tennis in Florida,” expressed Steve Bennett, DJ’s father.
Summer Opportunities and Doubles Prospects
Though she faced a setback on June 16 when she was eliminated from the singles semifinals as the tournament’s third seed, Bennett still has multiple opportunities to secure a place in the U.S. Open singles bracket through several tournaments planned for the summer.
In the doubles competition, her prospects remain strong. Teaming up with fellow Auburn player Ava Hrastar, Bennett won a challenging match against South Carolina’s Sarah Hamner and Kaitlyn Carnicella, with scores reading 6-4, 6-3. Bennett and Hrastar, who are the top seeds in their doubles tournament, are set to clash with the winner of a match between UCLA’s Olivia Center and Kate Fakih, and North Carolina’s Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton on Thursday night. Success in this matchup could lead them closer to a spot at the U.S. Open ahead of Bennett’s senior year.
Fans can catch the first female state tennis champion from Marion County, DJ Bennett, live on Cracked Racquets’ YouTube channel.
Stay Updated
For more updates on her journey and achievements, refer back to the Ocala Star-Banner’s original coverage of Bennett’s path toward the U.S. Open.
