Paul, Davis win USTA Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge

Roland Garros qualifying got underway on Monday, but two players who won't have to battle it out this week are Tommy Paul and Lauren Davis. The Americans won the USTA's Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge with their performances in clay lead-up events.

Paul, ranked No. 136, received his main-draw spot with his title in Sarasota (in which he beat Tennys Sandgren in the championship match), his run to the final in Tallahassee the next week and by reaching the quarterfinals in Savannah, Ga.

Though the 22-year-old will be making his main-draw debut at Roland Garros this year, he feels quite comfortable on the clay—he won the junior French Open in 2015. He tells Jon Wertheim on the Beyond the Baseline podcast that he and clay go way back.

"Growing up, the place that I played at, they only had clay courts," Paul said. "Not even one hard court."

Davis, meanwhile, captured her position by making the final in Dothan, Ala., and by winning the ITF 100K in Bonita Springs, Fla.

The 25-year-old is currently ranked No. 112 and has competed in six Roland Garros main draws, though she hasn't pulled off a win there since her debut, in 2012.

Paul wound up withdrawing from his quarterfinal in Savannah, though he was back playing in Geneva this week, where he fell in the second round of qualifying to Damir Dzumhur.