USTA TENNIS CLASSIC OF TROY, ALABAMA
MAIN DRAW MATCHES BEGIN AT TROY TENNIS CLASSIC

By Rick Limpert

TROY, Ala., (Oct 9, 2012) – On the heels of the USTA Tennis Classic receiving an award from the USTA for ten consecutive years of hosting a  professional event, the tournament got down to business on Tuesday as  qualifying wrapped up and the main draw began in earnest.

Eight  qualifying matches started the day and two Americans posted early wins.  Former Tennessee Volunteer player Natalie Pluskota of Sharpsburg,  Georgia and Chalena Scholl both won in straight sets.

Former top-ranked Canadian and WTA No. 38, Rebecca Marino advanced to the main draw with a 6-3, 6-4 win over American Keri Wong.

The main draw began with American Lena Litvak defeating wildcard entry Maci Epstein.

Maci Epstein

A three-hour plus marathon between Marie-Eve Pelletier of  Canada and Nicola Geuer of Germany ended with the Canadian pulling out a  3-6, 7-5, 6-4 win.

Pelletier pulled it out

The match of the day was quite a treat for the 150 or so tennis fans that cut school or ditched work to see two of the top junior girls in America battle for a spot in the second round.

Indianapolis’ Brooke Austin, the USTA National Open winner faced off with Allie Kiick of Plantation, Florida and finalist at the USTA National 18’s this  summer.

Kiick Couldn’t

Kiick got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 2-0 lead, but Austin stormed back and took the first set 6-3.  Austin relied on  her deep and flat groundstrokes to keep Kiick pinned behind the  baseline.  That was enough to pull off a 6-4 second set and the win.

Austin Prevails

In other action, top-seeded Michelle Larcher De Brito won her opening  round match by defeating Nicole Rottmann of Austria 6-3, 6-4.

Wednesday’s schedule is highlighted by an afternoon match featuring Grace Min of Lawrenceville, Georgia and Marino. Min is a former U.S. Open junior champ and is currently ranked No. 179 in the world. Min has had a lot of success at this level over the past two years.

“This is a  young American against an established veteran,” says tournament director Eric Hayes.  “It’s a contrast in styles and a match, that if you are in the area on Tuesday afternoon, you shouldn’t miss.”

Tuesday’s Results:

Starting at 10:00 WSQ Jelena PANDZIC (CRO) [10] Angelina GABUEVA (RUS) [1] 6-4 6-2
Starting at 10:00 WSQ Rebecca MARINO (CAN) [3] Keri WONG (USA) 6-3 6-4
Starting at 10:00 WSQ Natalie PLUSKOTA (USA) [11] Anne-Liz JEUKENG (USA) [5] 7-5 6-1
Starting at 10:00 WSQ Chalena SCHOLL (USA) [6] Amanda RODGERS (USA) 6-2 6-2
Starting at 10:00 WSQ Isabella ROBBIANI (PAR) [4] Emily J. HARMAN (USA) [12] 6-2 6-1
Starting at 10:00 WSQ Anamika BHARGAVA (USA) [8] Maria SMITH (USA) 6-2 6-3
Followed by WS Lena LITVAK (USA) Maci EPSTEIN (USA) 6-4 6-4
Followed by WS Marie-Eve PELLETIER (CAN) [6] Nicola GEUER (GER) 3-6 7-5 6-4
Followed by WSQ Vojislava LUKIC (SRB) [2] Nicola SLATER (GBR) [9] 6-3 7-5
Followed by WSQ Lauren ALBANESE (USA) [7] Sonja MOLNAR (CAN) [16] 6-3 7-6(4)
Followed by WS Brooke AUSTIN (USA) Alexandra KIICK (USA) 6-4 6-3
Followed by WS Michelle LARCHER DE BRITO (POR) [1] Nicole ROTTMANN (AUT) 6-3 6-4
Followed by WS Stephanie DUBOIS (CAN) [3] Maria ABRAMOVIC (CRO) 6-4 7-6(3)
Followed by WD Anamika BHARGAVA (USA) / Jelena DURISIC (SLO) Madeleine KOBELT (USA) / Amanda RODGERS (USA) 3-6 6-3 [10-6]
Followed by WD Maria-Fernanda ALVAREZ-TERAN (BOL) [3] / Maria- Ulrikke EIKERI (NOR) / Adriana PEREZ (VEN) 6-3 6-2
Followed by WD Chieh-Yu HSU (USA) / Chi Chi SCHOLL (USA) [4] Maria Andrea CARDENAS (VEN) / Nicola GEUER (GER) 6-1 6-2
Followed by WD Lena LITVAK (USA) / Natalie PLUSKOTA (USA) Brianna LASHWAY (USA) / Brooke LASHWAY (USA) 6-0 6-0