Ceremony

Aga "Madwanska" Radwanska

I’m perched in West Hartford, Connecticut, ready to descend upon the coast for first round qualifying and the main draw ceremony at the Connecticut Open in New Haven tomorrow. For the third time in four years, I’ll provide Tennis Atlantic coverage of the tournament in the shadow of the Yale Bowl until Tuesday night before heading south for US Open qualifying.

A big day of news for this event, as world #15 Agnieszka Radwanska nabbed a wild card, and Belinda Bencic retired in Cincinnati and withdrew from New Haven. Sloane Stephens has also withdrawn. Daria Gavrilova and Tsvetana Pironkova step up as main draw replacements. Garbine Muguruza also bowed out and is replaced by Alison Riske.

In other news, Nicole Gibbs and Louisa Chirico made the cut for the qualifying draw without needing the wild cards they were granted. As a result, Alexa Grahm and Yale player Carol Finke will use those WCs to enter qualifying.

Draw ceremony is at 12:30 p.m. with late wild carder Agnieszka Radwanska as the special hostess on the marquee.

CONNECTICUT OPEN PRESENTED BY UNITED TECHNOLOGIES – NEW HAVEN, USA
$ 754,163.00
21-29 AUGUST 2015

ORDER OF PLAY – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015
GRANDSTAND start 10:00 am
Qualifying – [1] M. Niculescu (ROU) vs N. Gibbs (USA)
Qualifying – [WC] C. Finke (USA) vs L. Chirico (USA)
Qualifying – [3] L. Tsurenko (UKR) vs F. Schiavone (ITA)
Qualifying – [WC] A. Graham (USA) vs [WC] L. Robson (GBR)

COURT 1 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – A. Konjuh (CRO) vs [10] J. Larsson (SWE)
Qualifying – [5] C. Witthoeft (GER) vs L. Davis (USA)
Qualifying – D. Kovinic (MNE) vs I. Falconi (USA)
Qualifying – A. Glatch (USA) vs A. Hlavackova (CZE)

Not Before 2:00 pm
TBA – Qualifying – M. Gasparyan (RUS) vs [13] C. Mchale (USA)

COURT 2 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – [6] M. Rybarikova (SVK) vs L. Arruabarrena (ESP)
Qualifying – Y. Putintseva (KAZ) vs O. Govortsova (BLR)
Qualifying – M. Erakovic (NZL) vs [11] L. Hradecka (CZE)
Qualifying – U. Radwanska (POL) vs [9] J. Goerges (GER)

Not Before 4:00 pm
TBA – Qualifying – E. Vesnina (RUS) vs M. Doi (JPN)

COURT 3 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – [WC] S. Crawford (USA) vs K. Kanepi (EST)
Qualifying – [4] R. Vinci (ITA) vs L. Domínguez Lino (ESP)
Qualifying – M. Duque-Mariño (COL) vs S. Karatantcheva (BUL)
Qualifying – [7] A. Dulgheru (ROU) vs M. Linette (POL)

Not Before 4:00 pm
TBA – Qualifying – [WC] E. Raszkiewicz (USA) vs [12] C. Dellacqua (AUS)

COURT A start 10:00 am
Qualifying – A. Mestach (BEL) vs P. Hercog (SLO)
Qualifying – E. Kulichkova (RUS) vs [8] A. Van Uytvanck (BEL)
Qualifying – E. Rodina (RUS) vs M. Puig (PUR)

COURT C start 10:00 am
Qualifying – A. Mitu (ROU) vs A. Beck (GER)
Qualifying – [WC] V. King (USA) vs [Alt] O. Savchuk (UKR)

DRAW SET FOR US/ITALY FED CUP FROM CLEVELAND
Steve Fogleman, cross-posted at TennisPanorama.com

CLEVELAND, February 7, 2014–The US and Italian Fed Cup Team match ups are all set in Cleveland, having been determined during an afternoon draw ceremony today at a downtown hotel two blocks from the site of the tie.

The second-highest ranked American on the team, Christina McHale, will open against top Italian Team player Karin Knapp at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, followed by Madison Keys and Camila Giorgi.

On Sunday, Keys and Knapp will meet at 12:00 p.m., followed by McHale and Giorgi.

Alison Riske and Lauren Keys were enlisted for doubles, and they will square off on Sunday against Nastassja Burnett and Alice Mateucci in the fifth rubber.

Team Italy with a detached Nastassja Burnett

At the post-draw press conference, the members of the American team expressed elation at having been chosen to participate on behalf of the US. Only one of the players—McHale—has previously represented her country in Fed Cup play and she was designated a captain for her experience.

“Whether I play or not, it’s great to be here”, said Alison Riske.

Mary Jo Fernandez spoke out in support of her designation of McHale as the leader of the team.

“It’s a different experience playing for your country. Christina has been there before. She
knows what’s coming her way.”

McHale’s past participation aside, this group is Generation Next. The Americans hope to end an 0-3 slump to the Italians, after beating the Azzuri nine times in a row between 1963-2003.

DAY/LOCAL TIME MATCH PAIRING
Saturday, 1:00 p.m. Singles A: Christina McHale (USA) vs. Karin Knapp (ITA)
Singles B: Madison Keys (USA) vs. Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Sunday, 12:00 p.m. Singles C: Madison Keys (USA) vs. Karin Knapp (ITA)
Singles D: Christina McHale (USA) vs. Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Doubles: Lauren Davis/Alison Riske (USA) vs. Nastassja Burnett/Alice Matteucci(ITA)