There is a lot of talk around the grounds of the U.S. Open Qualifying about the fact that Amanda McDowell is the first American NCAA champion to not receive a main draw wildcard. I can't say that I am not disappointed with this, but I have to say I am impressed in general with the impact college tennis has made in the world of professional tennis. At the U.S. Open Qualifying event alone, there were 11 NCAA champions in the 2008 draws alone, and even more in the main. Here is the list:

Qualifying
Kevin Anderson (2006 Doubles, Illinois)
Benjamin Becker (2004 Team; 2003 Singles, Baylor)
Travis Helgeson (2008 & 2007 Team, Georgia)
Rajeev Ram (2003 Doubles & Team, Illinois)
Ryler DeHeart (2003 Team, Illinois)
Benedickt Dorsch (2005 Singles; 2004 Team, Baylor)
KJ Hippensteel (2000 Team; 1999 Doubles, Stanford)
Raquel Kops-Jones (2003 Doubles, California)
Audra Cohen (2007 Singles, Miami)
Amanda McDowell (2008 Singles; 2007 Team, Georgia Tech)
Lilia Osterloh (1997 Singles & Team, Stanford)

Main Draw
Bob Bryan (1998 Singles, Doubles & Team, Stanford)
Mike Bryan (1998 Doubles & Team, Stanford)
Amer Delic(2003 Singles & Team, Illinois)
Eric Butorac (2003 Singles & Doubles, Gustavus Adolphus-NCAA III)
John Isner (2007 Team & 2005 Doubles, Georgia)
Jim Thomas (1996 & 1995 Team, Stanford)
Kaes Van't Hof (2008 Doubles, Southern California)
Saw Warburg (2004 Doubles, Stanford)
Jill Crabas (1996 Singles & Team; 1993 Team, Florida)
Christina Fusano (2003 Doubles, California)
Tracy Lin (2008 Doubles & Team, UCLA)
Lisa Raymond (1993 Singles; 1992 Singles & Team, Florida
Riza Zalameda (2008 Doubles & Team, UCLA)

CLICK HERE FOR COLUMNS
FROM OTHER DAYS & FEATURE STORIES
FROM THE 2008 US OPEN

Click Here For The Official U.S. Open site