Teen US Open Sensation Has to Forfeit $140K

CiCi Bellis' impressive US Open run ended Friday night when the 17-year-old was beaten 6-1, 6-1 by 28-year-old German Angelique Kerber in a third-round match, ending her hopes of becoming the youngest American in the last 16 since Venus Williams in 1997, the Guardian reports.The Californian could take home $140,000 in prize money—but only if she decides to go professional. Instead, Bellis plans to forfeit the majority of her winnings so she can maintain her amateur status and play at Stanford, the New York Times reports.

Even with the one-sided loss to No. 2. seed Kerber, Bellis —who first thrilled the US Open as a 15-year-old qualifier who made the second round two years ago—is expected to move up as many as 40 points in the world rankings. She insists that she will stay amateur for now, and though she has to forfeit most of the prize money, NCAA regulations do allow her to splash out a little more on travel expenses. "I just moved up to a regular suite," she tells the Guardian. "Maybe the presidential suite this time." (More CiCi Bellis stories.)