The Memphis Classic qualifying spot goes to UNC’s Reese Brantmeier

Reese Brantmeier cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 victory over DJ Bennett in the Memphis Pro Qualifier Event, earning a spot in the inaugural The Memphis Classic qualifying draw.

USTA Southern hosted the qualifier to give college players the opportunity to play The Memphis Classic, a WTA 250 tournament. Eight players from around the country competed in the three-day tournament at the Cary (N.C.) Tennis Park. Brantmeier just finished her career at North Carolina and Bennett was a senior at Auburn.

“This is such an awesome event and opportunity that USTA Southern and The Memphis Classic gave to collegiate players,” Brantmeier said. “This type of event is so important to have the opportunity to transition from collegiate play to professional tennis. To have a WTA 250 qualifying wildcard is so helpful, especially with me graduating this year and starting my path towards professional tennis.”

Give American collegiate players an opportunity

USTA Southern Director, Junior Tennis & Player Development Maria Cercone talked about the establishment of the event.

“We came up with this event because USTA Southern would like to give American collegiate players the opportunity to be able to transition into the professional pathway. To be able to offer a wildcard for a WTA 250 qualifying tournament is amazing and it gives a young player a kickstart. We are very grateful and fortunate to The Memphis Classic to partner with us on this event,” she said.

Brantmeier’s toughest test was in the first round when high school senior Carlota Moreno, of Knoxville, Tenn., took her to a third set 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. Brantmeier defeated teammate Anna Frey in the semifinal 6-3, 7-5.

Reigning NCAA individual champion
Brantmeier is the reigning NCAA individual champion and a 10-time All-American during her career at North Carolina. The two-time ACC Player of the Year finished 2026 with ranked No. 2 in singles and No. 4 in doubles nationally.

Bennett agreed about the value of the event. “I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to play in the tournament. To be one of the players chosen was an incredible honor, and the competition was on another level! Opportunities like this play a significant role in player development, providing valuable experiences and a chance to continue growing on the court.”

Bennett was a 2024-25 NCAA singles finalist and a doubles semifinalist.

Southerners who played were 2023 USTA Southern Dewitt Redgrave III Junior Achievement Award winner and Vanderbilt player Mia Yamakita, of Alpharetta, Ga., and UNC’s Claire Hill, who grew up in Cary. Hill is set to play for Tennessee and won the 2025 USTA Southern Dewitt Redgrave III Junior Achievement Award.

The Memphis Classic, a WTA 250 tournament, will be staged at Leftwich Tennis Center July 25–August 2, aligning The Memphis Classic with the kickoff of the U.S. summer hard‑court swing and offering fans eight days of top‑tier competition and experiences. The WTA event is operated by Topnotch Management, a leading global sports agency. The Memphis tournament will feature a 32‑player singles draw and WTA 250‑level ranking points and prize money.