Baseline to host US Open qualifier

For several Gophers tennis players hopeful of making this year’s U.S. Open, the first leg of the journey starts at home.

The University of Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center will host the U.S. Open National Playoff Northern Sectional Tournament this Thursday through Sunday.

The tournament is part of the U.S. Open National Playoffs, which is comprised of 16 tournaments that allow eligible players ages 14 and older to attempt to qualify for the 2011 U.S. Open, held in August.

John Pratt, the director of Baseline Tennis Center since its opening in 2002, said the tournament will not only showcase Baseline, but the entire University.

“I’d like to think that we are one of the best places to play tennis in the upper Midwest,” Pratt said. “One of the mission statements in the athletic department is to serve as a window to the University. We’re their window to the University in general.”

The northern section includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Baseline submitted and won a bid to host the tournament, Pratt said.

The winner of each sectional tournament earns the right to advance to the U.S. Open National Playoffs Championships in August, which are being hosted in at Yale University.

Winning that tournament affords a player — one men’s singles competitor, one women’s singles and one mixed doubles pair — a wildcard berth to compete in this year’s U.S. Open.

Several players with Gopher ties will be competing in this week’s event at Baseline.

2011 unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection Tobias Wernet will be competing in the men’s draw. Wernet was Minnesota’s top player this past season as he led the team with 24 victories.

Senior-to-be Phillip Arndt, who posted a 21-11 record during his junior year will also be competing, as will incoming freshman and Rochester native Eric Frueh.

Incoming freshmen Aria Lambert and Julia Courter will compete in the women’s draw. Lambert, a graduate of Minnetonka High School, is a two-time state champion. Minnesota assistant coach Daria Panova will join the future Gophers in the women’s singles field.

Dana Young, former Gopher and wife of men’s head coach Geoff Young, will pair with Wernet in mixed doubles.

“I think it’s going to be interesting and exciting,” Geoff Young said. “Two former Gophers — it should be interesting to see what they can do.”

Current Gopher Alexa Palen will also be competing in mixed doubles, alongside Nick Crossley.