Monday Wrap at @USTAProCircuit Tennis Classic of Macon, GA
MACON, Georgia, (October 7, 2013) A 2 hour and 20 minute rain delay didn’t appear to keep any fans away, or hurt the level of play at day two of qualifying at the ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon.
While there were a few quick matches, many fans settled in and enjoyed a few long three set encounters that lasted about three hours.
Allison Miller, Elizabeth Lumpkin, Photo: R. Limpert
Allison Miller, a junior player and a Notre Dame commit from Norcross, Georgia outlasted the qualifying draw’s 15th seed Emily Harman 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a match that featured several games that lasted more than 10 minutes.
Miller will next face the top seed in qualifying, Di Zhao of China. Zhao won a three set match over Yekaterina Sagitova of Kazakhstan.
Elizabeth Lumpkin, Photo: R. Limpert
Former UCLA player Elizabeth Lumpkin defeated Mercer University player Danielle Jones, 6-1, 6-1, and former Florida All-American Lauren Embree downed Syracuse University player Amanda Rodgers 6-3, 6-0. Natalie Pluskota, a former Tennessee player from Sharpsburg, Georgia, about an hour from Macon also advanced to the finals on qualifying.
“The rains pushed us back a little, but we had schoolkids out here watching and then people as they got off of work,” said Mercer tennis coach and tournament director Eric Hayes.
The last match of the day wrapped up just before 8 pm local time as Kady Pooler defeated Brooke Broda in a battle of Americans 2-6, 7-6 (4) 6-4.
Monday wrapped up with a pro am featuring tournament sponsors and VIPs paired up with tournament players that made for some spirited doubles matches. Former French Open champ Luke Jensen of the famed “Jensen Brothers” joined the locals in all the fun.
U.S. Paralympic athlete Jarryd Wallace spoke to the players, sponsors and tournament volunteers at the tournament party. Wallace, who lost a leg three years ago told an inspirational tale about never giving up and run every race, no matter what hand of cards you’re dealt.
Monday’s Results (Winners Listed First)
Elizabeth LUMPKIN (USA) [2]Morgan JONES (USA) WSQ 6-1 6-1
Allison MILLER (USA)Emily J. HARMAN (USA) [15] WSQ 6-2 5-7 6-4
Caitlin WHORISKEY (USA) [4]Diana COLEN (USA) WSQ 6-0 6-1
Natalie PLUSKOTA (USA) [3]Natalie SUK (USA) WSQ 6-1 6-2
Followed by Kateryna YERGINA (UKR)Elizabeth KILBORN (USA) WSQ 6-4 6-2
Followed by Di ZHAO (CHN) [1]Yekaterina SAGITOVA (KAZ) WSQ 3-6 6-2 6-3
Followed by Michelle SAMMONS (RSA) [10]Sianna SIMMONS (USA) WSQ 7-5 6-3
Followed by Anastasia Evgenyevna NEFEDOVA (RUS) [16]Maria AVGERINOS (USA) WSQ 6-1 3-6 6-3
Followed by Lauren EMBREE (USA) [5]Amanda RODGERS (USA) WSQ 6-3 6-0
Followed by Danielle LAO (USA)Emerald ABLE (USA) WSQ 6-4 6-1
Followed by Brittany LASHWAY (USA)Jessica LAWRENCE (USA) [6] WSQ 1-6 6-2 6-1
Followed by Mari OSAKA (JPN) [7]Rosalia ALDA (USA) WSQ 6-4 6-2
Followed by Anne-Liz JEUKENG (USA) [11]Leila HODZIC (USA) WSQ 6-0 7-6(1)
Followed by Kady POOLER (USA)Brooke BRODA (USA) WSQ 2-6 7-6(4) 6-4
Followed by Piia SUOMALAINEN (FIN) [9]Aleah MARROW (USA) WSQ 6-1 6-2
Followed by Emma HAYMAN (NZL) [8]Jade LEWIS (NZL) WSQ 6-1 6-3
—R. Limpert
Tennis Atlantic 