Tennis Atlantic

MACON, Georgia, (October 6, 2013)– Summer temperatures greeted players on the first day of the 2013 ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon presented by The W.L. Amos Foundation.

With humidity in the air and blue skies up above qualifying 32 qualifying matches kicked off tournament play at Stratford Academy’s Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center.

Top seeded Di Zhao of China found tough going, but defeated young American Kristin Wiley 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. Former Florida All-American Lauren Embree defeated Kayla Symone Price 6-0, 6-2.

The player with possibly the largest rooting section was Natalie Pluskota of Sharpsburg, Georgia. The former Tennessee player had family and friends forming a row watching her in action, and they were able to see Natalie pull out a tough three-set win over Petra Januskova of Canada.

Also of local interest, Macon junior Ariadna Riley fell in a tough two-set match 7-5, 7-5 to former Georgia Tech player Elizabeth Kilborn and Mercer University sophomore Danielle Jones defeated Jennifer Rink 6-3, 6-1 to advance to play on Monday.

Mercer tennis coach and tournament director Eric Hayes was thrilled with the the quality of play and the fan turnout.

“The fans that came out today saw some great tennis,” said Hayes. “We had some local players play well and we sold some weekly passes for the tournament, so we know people are coming back.”

Tickets are available at the gate at Stratford Academy.

This 25K event is mix of rising and established players looking to earn points to finish the year strongly, and in some cases, earn direct acceptance into the 2014 Australian Open

*Today’s Results (winners listed first):

 Di ZHAO (CHN) [1] Kristin WILEY (USA) WSQ 6-1 5-7 6-2

Yekaterina SAGITOVA (KAZ) Peeraya CHAROENSIRISUTTHIKUL (THA) WSQ 6-0 5-7 6-3

Allison MILLER (USA) Spirit EDLEY (USA) WSQ 6-1 6-0

Emily J. HARMAN (USA) [15]Rhiann NEWBORN (USA) WSQ 6-2 6-2

Elizabeth LUMPKIN (USA) [2]Gail FALKENBERG (USA) WSQ 6-0 6-0

Kateryna YERGINA (UKR) Angelina ZHURAVLEVA (RUS) [13] WSQ 6-2 6-3

Natalie PLUSKOTA (USA) [3]Petra JANUSKOVA (CAN) WSQ 6-2 3-6 6-2

Natalie SUK (USA) Malika ROSE (USA) WSQ 6-0 6-2

Sianna SIMMONS (USA) Olivia MESSINEO (USA) WSQ 6-2 6-2

Michelle SAMMONS (RSA) [10]Saera KANDA (JPN) WSQ 6-0 6-0

Caitlin WHORISKEY (USA) [4]Khristina BLAJKEVITCH (CAN) WSQ 6-4 6-0

Diana COLEN (USA) Olga ZAVAROTNAYA (BLR) WSQ 6-4 6-2

Maria AVGERINOS (USA) Maria SMITH (USA) WSQ 6-4 7-5

Anastasia Evgenyevna NEFEDOVA (RUS) [16]Dewonder DAVIS (USA) WSQ 6-0 6-0

Lauren EMBREE (USA) [5]Kayla Symone PRICE (USA) WSQ 6-0 6-2

Amanda RODGERS (USA) Breanna Alexa Bachini BACHINI (USA) WSQ 6-0 6-4

Danielle LAO (USA) Maia A. MAGILL (USA) WSQ 6-1 6-1

 Jessica LAWRENCE (USA) [6]Barbora VASILKOVA (SVK) WSQ 6-1 6-1

Emerald ABLE (USA) Stephanie BENGSON (AUS) [14] WSQ 6-2 6-2

Morgan JONES (USA) Jennifer RINK (GER) WSQ 6-3 6-1

Brittany LASHWAY (USA) Alexus JONES (USA) WSQ 6-0 6-0

Aleah MARROW (USA) Valeria SALAZAR (MEX) WSQ 6-3 7-5

Piia SUOMALAINEN (FIN) [9]Ashley CANTY (USA) WSQ 6-2 6-1

Mari OSAKA (JPN) [7]Madeleine KOBELT (USA) WSQ 4-6 7-6(2) 6-1

Elizabeth KILBORN (USA) Ariadna RILEY (USA) WSQ 7-5 7-5

Rosalia ALDA (USA) Tai MARTIN (USA) WSQ 6-2 7-6(3)

Leila HODZIC (USA) Kassie TULENKO (USA) WSQ 6-0 6-1

Anne-Liz JEUKENG (USA) [11]Mercedes HAMMOND (USA) WSQ 7-5 6-0

Brooke BRODA (USA) Mary WEATHERHOLT (USA) [12] WSQ 6-5 Ret.

—R. Limpert