ERIE, Pa. -- Advancing from a field of nearly 1,000 competitors, Mercyhurst College senior tennis standout and Erie native Keith Whittingham has qualified to participate in the U.S. Open National Playoffs. 

Ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region, the Lakers' No. 1 singles/doubles player reached the finals of the Northern Section Qualifying Tournament in Sartell, Minnesota last month to qualify for one of the top 16 berths in the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament to be held July 22-25 at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Atlanta, Ga.  

One of 859 participants, Whittingham advanced to the finals of the Northern Section Qualifying Tournament without dropping a set before falling to Tony Larson (6-2, 6-3). He earned his spot when Larson was unable to compete in the Men's Championships.

The US Open National Playoffs operates as a series of tournaments—16 sectional qualifying tournaments leading to the US Open National Playoffs – Men's and Women's Championships, with the men's and women's winners each earning a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament held August 24-27 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open. 

With the arrival of the US Open National Playoffs, the 2010 US Open was officially "open" for the first time ever—meaning anyone and everyone 14-and-over, regardless of experience or playing ability, could compete for a qualifying wild card and a chance at playing in the showcase event of American tennis.

In addition to the live coverage of the finals on July 25, Tennis Channel also will air a one-hour documentary, chronicling the inaugural year of the U.S. Open National Playoffs.

Read more about the U.S. Open National Playoffs at the official site.