London Earns Berth in U.S. Open by Winning Qualifying Tournament

Nicole London of Rolling Hills Estates defeated Jolene Watanabe, La Puente, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, Saturday in a final of the U.S. Open qualifying tournament in New York City.

London, one of eight qualifiers to earn a spot in the 128-player main draw, will play Susan Sloane-Lundy of Lexington, Ky., in a first-round match on Monday or Tuesday.

Qualifying also determined the first-round opponents for two male players with South Bay ties. Pete Sampras, a former Palos Verdes High player who is seeded third, will meet David DiLucia, who was ranked second on the Volvo Tennis/Collegiate Rankings while playing for Notre Dame during the 1991-92 season.

Jeff Tarango of Manhattan Beach, will play Alejo Mancisidor of Spain in the first round.

Amanda Basica of Lomita won her singles match and teamed with Amanda Augustus of Palos Verdes for a victory in doubles as the U.S. defeated Australia, 3-0, in the final of the girls’ 14-and-under division of the International Tennis Federation World Youth Cup at Tokyo.

Basica beat Renee Reid, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, in singles and joined Augustus for a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Reid and Siobhan Drake-Brockman.