SAVANNAH, April 26, 2017

The USTA announced that 22-year-old Christian Harrison of Shreveport and 19-year-old Tommy Paul of Voorhees, have been awarded wild card entries into the singles main draw of the 2017 St. Joseph’s/Candler Savannah Challenger. This $75,000 USTA Pro Circuit men’s event will take place April 29-May 7 at The Landings Club in Savannah.

Harrison is currently ranked No. 387 in the world and has played in just a handful of tournaments since July 2013 after suffering a series of injuries. In 2016 he qualified for the US Open, competing in his first-ever Grand Slam singles main draw. Earlier in the summer, he won his first USTA Pro Circuit singles title at the $25,000 Futures event in Champaign, Ill. Harrison also holds one ITF-level singles title (2013 in Great Britain.)

In 2012, Harrison advanced to the doubles quarterfinals of the US Open after partnering with his older brother and Top 50 player Ryan Harrison.

Paul is currently ranked No. 396 in the world. In 2015, he reached the finals of two junior grand slam events, claiming the title at the French Open after defeating fellow American Taylor Fritz. In 2016 Paul reached a career-high ranking of No. 191 in the world after qualifying for the Miami Open and advancing to the second round of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston. Paul holds five ITF futures titles and has reached the finals of one ATP Challenger Tour event.

Wild cards for the qualifying singles event have also been awarded to local talent Blake Croyder, Nicholas Bybel, and Sean Sculley. Croyder was the winner of the the Boy’s 18 Division at the Peach State Championships. Bybel played four years at Bucknell University where he was 112-29 in singles and was named Rookie of the Year during his Freshman year. Sculley was a quarter-finalist in boy’s doubles at the US Open and has committed to Duke University. Qualifying play will start on Saturday April 29, and will continue through Monday May 1.