Five things to know about US Open wild card Ahn

Kristie Ahn had a breakthrough last week in San Jose when she came from qualifying to reach the quarterfinals at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic Premier event. It was just announced that the 27-year-old has earned a wild card for the US Open.

Here are the Top 5 things to know about the world No. 138.

1

Ahn is a three-time All-American at Stanford and clinched the 2013 team NCAA championship for the Cardinals. She graduated in 2014 with a major in Science, Technology and Society.

2

She captured the US Open Wild Card Challenge after her quarterfinal run in San Jose that put her well ahead of her challengers. It will be her first main draw US Open appearance since 2008, when she competed as a 16-year old qualifier. Ahn has yet to win a main-draw match at a major.

3

The American is friends with two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who won the US Open last year. Ahn is also pals with compatriot Louisa Chirico, and the two are something of a traveling band on tour, with Ahn a capable ukulele and guitar player.

4

Ahn took a stand against internet trolls when she received hate messages from someone who placed a sports bet against her and lost. She found his sister's Instagram profile and decided to inform her of the messages he had been sending her, and the sister's response was heart-warming.

5

In San Jose the puppies seemed to be Ahn's lucky charm. On top of her success last week, Ahn has won seven ITF singles titles and been ranked as high as No. 105.

The US Open Wild Card Challenge tallies ranking points from a five-week period to award a US Open singles main draw wild card to an American man and woman who won't otherwise gain direct entry. Ahn secured first place when Francesca Di Lorenzo lost to Kiki Bertens in Toronto.