Former finalist Philippoussis heads U.S. Open wildcards

NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) Former US Open finalist Mark Philippoussis has been granted a wildcard into this year's event in New York, tournament organisers said.

The Australian world number 112 has been battling injuries for most of the year, but his improving form saw him win the title in Newport last month. He was a runner-up at the US Open in 1998 and at Wimbledon in 2003.

A former world number eight, Philipoussis has been limited to entering only nine tour level events this year.

The other US Open wildcards went to American players: Scoville Jenkins, Alex Kuznetsov, Wayne Odesnik, Sam Querrey, Phillip Simmonds, Ryan Sweeting and Donald Young.

The US Open starts in New York on August. 28.

REUTERS PDS PM0742