Seven Buckeyes Take the Clay in Flushing Meadows

Red dust hung in the air as Ohio State alumni and current athletes stepped onto the courts for the 2026 US Open. Flushing Meadows buzzed with a specific kind of energy, the kind that only grand slam week produces. Seven Buckeyes entered the fray, a mix of former student athletes and current members of the men's tennis team. The clay baked under the New York sun, a warm, heavy surface that demanded consistency and grit from every player who touched it.

The group split between singles and doubles, creating a diverse footprint across the tournament. Four former players competed, including J.J. Wolf in the singles draw. In doubles, the lineup featured JJ Tracy, Robert Cash, and Matej Vocel. They were joined by three current Buckeyes: Bryce Nakashima, paired with his brother, and the duo of Nikita Filin and Brandon Carpico. As reported by GN sports/tennis (en-US), this marked a significant presence for the university in the event's main draws.

Wildcards Forge a Deep Run

Filin and Carpico arrived as American Wildcards, having secured their spot through the 2026 American Collegiate Player Wildcard Playoffs. They defeated Michael Andre and Matteo Antonescu from Indiana in a two-set final to earn their entry. Once inside the main draw, their momentum carried them further than expected. The pair finished with a 2-1 record, reaching the third round. They were the only two current college tennis players to survive until the final 16 teams remained in the competition.

Their path was not easy. They overcame a set deficit in every single match they played. This resilience allowed them to dethrone the No. 8 seeds, Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos. Their run finally ended against Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, the three-time US Open doubles champions. The defeat came hard, but the journey to that point stood out on the clay.

Veterans and Fresh Faces Face Off

Elsewhere in the doubles bracket, experience met new partnerships. JJ Tracy teamed up with Francisco Cabral, entering as the No. 16 seeds. They reached the third round before falling in straight sets to the top-ranked pair, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten. Robert Cash paired with Alexander Erler, making it to the second round. They eventually lost to the 13th-seeded Lucas Miedler and Marc Polmans.

The first round proved decisive for two other Buckeye pairs. Bryce Nakashima and his brother Brandon faced the same Miedler-Polmans duo and were eliminated early. Matej Vocel and his partner Jakub Paul met the 12th seeds, Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. That match also ended in the opening round, marking a swift exit from the main stage.

Singles Showdown on the Red Court

J.J. Wolf stood alone in the singles main draw, representing the Buckeyes in that specific bracket. He faced Alexander Bublik, the 15th seed and 16th-ranked player in the world. The match stretched into four sets, testing Wolf's endurance against a formidable opponent. Wolf grabbed the third set with a 6-3 victory, showing flashes of brilliance under pressure.

Bublik, however, closed the door in the fourth set. The match ended, concluding Wolf's stay at the US Open. The clay court had seen it all, from wild card triumphs to high-stakes eliminations. The season now shifts focus to the fall, with the ITA All-American Championships scheduled to open on September 19 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The energy from Flushing Meadows remains, a backdrop for the next chapter in the Buckeyes' competitive calendar.