Taylor Dent, Jesse Levine among men getting wild cards for US Open

Taylor Dent, Jesse Levine among US Open wild cards

NEW YORK — Taylor Dent will return to the U.S. Open for the first time since 2005 after receiving one of eight men’s wild cards Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Dent, of Newport Beach, Calif., missed two full seasons because of three back operations. He was ranked a career-high No. 21 in 2005, but is currently 202nd.

Dent twice has reached the fourth round at major championships: the U.S. Open in 2003 and Wimbledon in 2005.

Other American men given wild cards into the year’s last Grand Slam tournament, which begins Aug. 31: Jesse Levine of Boca Raton, Fla., NCAA champion Devin Britton of Jackson, Miss., Chase Buchanan of New Albany, Ohio, Brendan Evans of Key Biscayne, Fla., and Rajeev Ram of Carmel, Ind.

Levine made it to the third round of Wimbledon in June as a qualifier, upsetting former No. 1 Marat Safin along the way.

Chris Guccione of Australia and Michael Llodra of France get the last two men’s wild cards.

The eight women’s wild cards will be announced Thursday. The U.S. Tennis Association already has said 2005 U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters, who recently came out of retirement, is receiving a wild card.

The tournament draw is Aug. 27.