Dent to Play ATP Challenger in Laguna Hills

Taylor Dent, a 17-year-old from Newport Beach, was one of four players given wild-card berths into the main draw of the $50,000 ATP Challenger Feb. 20-28 at Nellie Gail Ranch Tennis & Swim Club in Laguna Hills. Dent, who turned professional before last year’s U.S. Open, has an ATP ranking of 413.

In 1996, Dent won the Southern Section individual singles title as a freshman at Corona del Mar. USC freshman Andrew Park, from San Marino, was also given a wild-card berth. Dent defeated Park in the ’96 Southern Section final. The other two wild-card berths were awarded to American tour veterans Jonathan Stark and Chris Woodruff.

Qualifying begins Feb. 20 at Nellie Gail and the main draw is Feb. 22. Pre-qualifying begins Monday at Costa Mesa Tennis Club and continues through Friday.

Esperanza’s Tom Lloyd and Dana Hills’ Brian Kent are two of the top-ranked junior players entered. The winner of the pre-qualifying tournament earns a spot in the qualifying draw.