Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

The USTA announced the 22 direct entries for the main draw of the JSM Challenger, at the Atkins Tennis Center, November 16-21. Out of 22 direct entries, 8 competed in the 2014 JSM Challenger main draw, including semifinalists Malek Jaziri of Tunisia and Blaz Rola of Slovenia.

Jaziri is currently the highest ranked player in the tournament at 92, according to the ATP October 26 rankings. American player and direct entry Austin Krajicek is the second highest ranked at 94, and James Duckworth of Australia takes the third highest ranking at 99. Duckworth is also a returner from the 2014 JSM main draw.

The JSM Challenger is the third event of the Australian Open Main Draw Wild Card Challenge: The player with the highest total cumulative singles main draw ATP ranking points from the 3 challenger events selected will be awarded a wild card into the main draw of the Australian Open. The 3 events include Charlottesville, Knoxville and Champaign.

After week 1 of the Wild Card Challenge, American Noah Rubin is in the lead with 80 points. 19-year-old Rubin is the 34th alternate for the JSM Champaign Challenger, with an ATP ranking of 588. American Tommy Paul follows Rubin with 48 points, also sitting on the JSM alternate list at number 10. 18-year-old Paul has an ATP ranking of 320 according the ATP October 26 standings. Rubin defeated Paul in the Charlottesville Challenger finals.

Both players earned a special exemption into the main draw of the Knoxville Challenger main draw beginning Tuesday November 10.

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.