15-year-old American Julieta Pareja advances to final round of US Open qualifying

Pareja is one of six Americans to move into the final round of the US Open women’s singles qualifying event

Arthur Ashe Stadium at the 2023 US Open Image Credit: Photoshot / Panoramic

August 22, 2024

The US Open could see a 15-year-old American complete the women’s singles draw this year.

On Wednesday, 2009-born Julieta Pareja scored a 7-6, 1-6, 6-4 win over 26-year-old Italian Lucrezia Stefanini to move one win away from claiming one of the 16 qualifying berths in the main draw. In the first round, the teenager defeated world No 166 Kayla Day in straight sets.

Pareja is ranked 960 among the pros and her highest ranking as a junior has been No. 104. She will face Australian Kimberly Birrell in the final round on Thursday. A win would make her the first player born in 2009 to compete in a Grand Slam women’s singles main draw.

15-year-old American, Julieta Pareja, advances into the final round of qualifying for the @usopen pic.twitter.com/GwIkJlz6VQ
— USTA (@usta) August 21, 2024

Pareja is one of six Americans through to the final round of qualifying at the US Open. She is joined by third seed Hailey Baptiste, 11th seed Ann Li, Varvara Lepchenko, Usue Maitane Anaconada and Elizabeth Mandlik.

Comeback-bound Ana Konjuh and 19-year-old Alexandra Eala were among those who also moved into the final round of qualifying on Wednesday.