Gators alumnae slated to play in U.S. Open Women's Doubles Championship
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 | Women's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 2026 U.S. Open Women's Doubles Championship gets underway Thursday, Sept. 3, and three former Gators — Anna Danilina, McCartney Kessler, and Ingrid Neel — are set to compete for the title.
Ingrid Neel
Ingrid Neel played for the Gators in the 2016-17 season, helping Florida to the 2017 NCAA Championship, and the ITA National Team Indoor title. She also earned 2017 All-America honors in doubles.
This mark's Neel's sixth women's doubles appearance at the U.S. Open, but her first teaming up with Giuliana Olmos. Neel advanced to the second round of the Open on two occasions — in 2015 alongside Tornado Black, and in 2022 partnering with Catherine Harrison.
Anna Danilina
Anna Danilina is also making her sixth trip to the U.S. Open, and is currently ranked No. 6 in the world in doubles. She spent the 2013-18 seasons in Gainesville helping the Gators to the 2017 NCAA and ITA Indoor titles, and earned All-America honors in doubles in 2017 and 2018.
Danilina advanced to the quarterfinals at the Open in 2024 and 2025, and her partner from last year, Aleksandra Krunić, is her partner again in 2026. Danilina won the U.S. Open mixed doubles title back in 2023.
McCartney Kessler
McCartney Kessler spent the 2017-22 seasons with the Gators, earning All-America honors in doubles following the 2020-21 season.
She is making her third straight trip to the U.S. Open, teaming up this year with fellow American Caty McNally. Kessler's best result in Queens is a second round finish last year alongside Peyton Stearns.
Ingrid Neel
Ingrid Neel played for the Gators in the 2016-17 season, helping Florida to the 2017 NCAA Championship, and the ITA National Team Indoor title. She also earned 2017 All-America honors in doubles.
This mark's Neel's sixth women's doubles appearance at the U.S. Open, but her first teaming up with Giuliana Olmos. Neel advanced to the second round of the Open on two occasions — in 2015 alongside Tornado Black, and in 2022 partnering with Catherine Harrison.
| Ingrid Neel, U.S. Open Women's Doubles Results | ||
| 2015 | Tornado Black | Second Round |
| 2021 | Lauren Davis | First Round |
| 2022 | Catherine Harrison | Second Round |
| 2023 | Ulrikke Elkeri | First Round |
| 2024 | Ulrikke Elkeri | First Round |
| 2026 | Giuliana Olmos | |
Anna Danilina
Anna Danilina is also making her sixth trip to the U.S. Open, and is currently ranked No. 6 in the world in doubles. She spent the 2013-18 seasons in Gainesville helping the Gators to the 2017 NCAA and ITA Indoor titles, and earned All-America honors in doubles in 2017 and 2018.
Danilina advanced to the quarterfinals at the Open in 2024 and 2025, and her partner from last year, Aleksandra Krunić, is her partner again in 2026. Danilina won the U.S. Open mixed doubles title back in 2023.
| Anna Danilina, U.S. Open Women's Doubles Results | ||
| 2021 | Yaroslava Shvedova | First Round |
| 2022 | Beatriz Haddad Maia | Third Round |
| 2023 | Heather Watson | Second Round |
| 2024 | Irina Khromacheva | Quarterfinals |
| 2025 | Aleksandra Krunić | Quarterfinals |
| 2026 | Aleksandra Krunić | |
McCartney Kessler
McCartney Kessler spent the 2017-22 seasons with the Gators, earning All-America honors in doubles following the 2020-21 season.
She is making her third straight trip to the U.S. Open, teaming up this year with fellow American Caty McNally. Kessler's best result in Queens is a second round finish last year alongside Peyton Stearns.
| McCartney Kessler, U.S. Open Women's Doubles Results | ||
| 2024 | Sabrina Santamaria | First Round |
| 2025 | Peyton Stearns | Second Round |
| 2026 | Caty McNally | |
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