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Friday Order of Play: 2013 USTA Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs

Posted by Admin on December 19, 2013
Posted in: ATP, Australian Open, USTA, Wild Card Playoffs, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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According to AustralianWildCard.com, the order of play for the USTA Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs at Lifetime Athletic in Norcross, GA on  Friday, December 20, 2013 has been set.

Court 7, the showcourt and the only live-streaming court, will feature Vicky Duval vs. Maria Sanchez, followed by Denis Kudla and Jarmere Jenkins, followed by Rhyne Williams/Chase Buchanan.

On Court 5, Grace Min and Nicole Gibbs will meet, followed by  top seed Shelby Rogers in a match against late entrant Sanaz Marand (replacing Julia Cohen).

Court 3: Madison Brengle vs. Sachia Vickery, followed by Steve Johnson vs. Bjorn Fratangelo and Tennys Sandgren vs. Austin Krajicek.

Matches begin at 11 a.m. tomorrow and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tennis East Coast will provide thorough coverage of the event from 10:30 tomorrow morning.

Kudla

Kudla

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013

COURT 7

11:00 a.m.

Victoria Duval vs. Maria Sanchez

Denis Kudla vs. Jarmere Jenkins

Rhyne Williams vs. Chase Buchanan

COURT 5

11:00 a.m.

Grace Min vs. Nicole Gibbs

Shelby Rogers vs. Sanaz Marand

COURT 3

11:00 a.m.

Madison Brengle vs. Sachia Vickery

Steve Johnson vs. Bjorn Fratangelo

Tennys Sandgren vs. Austin Krajicek

—S. Fogleman

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ANNA TATISHVILI (@AnkaTati) TAKES @USTAMacon25K BUTLERCARS.COM TENNIS CLASSIC CROWN

Posted by Admin on October 13, 2013
Posted in: USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

ANNA TATISHVILI (@AnkaTati) TAKES @USTAMacon25K BUTLERCARS.COM TENNIS CLASSIC CROWN

Anna Tatishvili (Photo: R. Limpert)

MACON, Georgia, (October 13, 2013) After a week of great weather, outstanding support shown by the Macon tennis community and world class women’s tennis, we arrived at “Finals Sunday” at the 2013 ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon presented by the W.L. Amos Foundation held at Stratford Academy’s Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center.

The best two players all week have been Anna Tatishvili and Ajla Tomljanovic, so Macon tennis fans were treated to a match that could happen in any grand slam tournament around the world.

Let me give away the result saying Tatishvili took the match 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, but both competitors earned the respect of all the spectators.

The points were long and it was high calibre tennis.

Tatishvili got off to a 4-1 start in the first set, but she said it may have been too good of a start.

“Ajla stepped it up in the second set meanwhile I was having a hard time keeping up,” explained the 23-year old from Georgia. The third set was much closer, I was down 1-4, but felt I could’ve been up 4-1.”

Tomljanovic did up the ante in the second set with a blistering array of serves setting up her forehand.

Tomljanovic continued that hot play until 5-3 in the third and that is when Tatishvili started thinking her way around the court and moving Tomljanovic around.

“I never try to quit, “summed up Tomljanovic. “Whenever I go on a court, it’s two to three hours of my work.”

Tatishvili took the third set 7-5 and the inaugural ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon.

In the doubles final, the American duo of Emily Harman and Elizabeth Lumpkin won a first set filled with service breaks 6-3 and got up 5-3 in the second before former University of Mississippi players Kristi Boxx and Abigail Guthrie caught fire.

Boxx and Guthrie took the second set in a tiebreaker and then went on to close out the match in the Match Tiebreak 10-4 to claim the 25K title.

After the match, Boxx said she had predicted a three-set win all along.

“I woke up this morning and talked to my mom and said don’t do what Ole Miss did (in football) last night. Take care of business. I texted her back and said we are going to win this one in three sets.”

Which they did.

Great weather and great fan support for professional women’s tennis in Macon all week.

—RICK LIMPERT

Semifinals Set @USTAProCircuit Tennis Classic of Macon, GA

Posted by Admin on October 12, 2013
Posted in: USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Semifinals Set @USTAProCircuit Tennis Classic of Macon, GA

Ulrikke Eikeri, Photo: R. Limpert

MACON, Georgia, (October 11, 2013) Ask ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic tournament director Eric Hayes what his favorite day of tournament week is, and you will hear him say, “they all a great, but Friday, when all the quarterfinals are played is special.”

“For many of the players, Friday is the day that determines whether they had a successful week or not,” offers up Hayes. “If they win, in many cases, they earn enough points to significantly boost their ranking.”

Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri is looking to boost her ranking back up to where it was before she injured her ankle back in February. Eikeri was approaching the No. 250 mark in the world rankings when she sustained an injury.

Now, she has put three great matches together in Macon and feels good about her game.

Playing almost flawless tennis, Eikeri took down American and seventh seed Allie Kiick in a little over an hour.

“The first set was perfect,” Eikeri said of the 6-0, 6-3 victory. “I wasn’t making any errors and everything was perfect in that first set.”

Eikeri was happy with the quick victory, that will allow her to spend the rest of Friday resting and recovering.

Eikeri said her confidence has risen since her first round upset over second seeded Michelle Larcher De Brito.

“It has helped my confidence, beating a player like that- it makes me feel like I can beat anyone.”

Anna Tatishvili (Photo: R. Limpert)

Eikeri will next face Anna Tatishvili of Georgia, not the state of Georgia, but the Republic of Georgia. Tatishvili, a former world No. 50 took out two-time NCAA singles champ Nicole Gibbs 6-1, 6-3 in a match where Gibbs frequently chided herself for unforced errors.

Tatishvili noticed her opponent Gibbs, get visibly frustrated, but she didn’t let it affect her game.

“I just try to focus on myself and I think it was because her serve was a little off today,” stated the 23-year old from Tbilisli, Georgia.

In the other semifinals, tournament top seed Ajla Tomljanovic jumped on American Julia Boserup quickly, winning the first set 6-2, but she had to hold on in the second, taking it 7-5.

Ajla Tomljanovic/Photo: Rick Limpert

“It was 6-2, 5-2, playing very solidly,” explained Tomljanovic. “But I have to give credit to her, she really stepped it up and made it more difficult for me to miss some shots I shouldn’t have- but that’s tennis.”

Tomljanovic will face American Madison Brengle in her semifinal match. Brengle defeated fellow American Jacqueline Cako of Seattle, Washington.

In doubles semifinals action, Emily Harman and Elizabeth Lumpkin defeated Lauren Embree and Allie Kiick and the other doubles semi went three sets with the team of Kristi Boxx and Abigail Guthrie defeating Boserup and Samantha Crawford.

The two singles semifinals will take place today starting at 11 am.

—R. Limpert

Americans Find Success @USTAProCircuit Tennis Classic of Macon Wednesday

Posted by Admin on October 9, 2013
Posted in: USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Americans Find Success @USTAProCircuit Tennis Classic of Macon Wednesday

Alex Guarachi/R. Limpert

MACON, Georgia, (October 9, 2013) More beautiful weather for the continuation of the first round of the main draw on Wednesday, and that played right into the hands of the American players at the ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon held at the Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center at Stratford Academy.

Wildcard entry and former University of Alabama player Alexa Guarachi took on China’s Di Zhao to start Wednesday’s action. Guarachi, who because of injury issues, doesn’t even currently hold a world ranking started a bit tentatively, but caught fire at the end of the first set edged the world No. 515 6-4, 7-5 in front of a group of family and friends.

“I kind of had a slow start, but thought I played well,” said Guarachi following her win. “My serve helped and he helps me set up what I want to do with the next ball.”

Guarachi next takes on another former college player in former Arizona State Sun Devil Jacqueline Cako. Even after both played four year in college, they have never played each other.

“I’m excited,” stated Guarachi. “I know her game a little and I’ve had some friends that have played her, so I can talk to them.

Allie Will/R. Limpert

Another player that did some talking was former University of Florida player Allie Will.

Will fell behind Emma Hayman of New Zealand early and dropped the first set. Will then proceeded to give herself frequent short pep talks as she eeked out a tiebreaker to take the second set to force a decisive third.

The talks appeared to work as Will went on to win the third set and advance.

Also advancing was former USC player and qualifying draw survivor Danielle Lao of Arcadia, California. Lao came to Macon with no world ranking, but a relaxed attitude and she says that is paying off.

Lao won a battle with fellow American Chiara Scholl 6-4, 6-4 and is content to take it one match at a time.

“I think I decided to play these tournaments a few weeks ago- it was either or going to be great or be a disaster, but so far so good,” offered up Lao.

Lao said she relies on her own instincts when preparing for a match and doesn’t worry about what the stats or percentages say.

“I usually don’t check the numbers and stats, but I try to play my game and go out there and access what I need to do. The numbers don’t necessarily lie, but they can be deceiving.”

Lao next will face top seeded Adja Tomljanovic.

The tournament’s third seed Madison Brengle cruised through her first round match with a straight set win over Tereza Martincova. Brengle will next face Natalie Pluskota of Sharpsburg, Georgia.

—R Limpert

Michelle Shocked: Larcher de Brito Upset @USTAProCircuit Tennis Classic of Macon

Posted by Admin on October 8, 2013
Posted in: USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Michelle Shocked: Larcher de Brito Upset at Tennis Classic of Macon

Michelle Larcher De Brito, Photo: R. Limpert

MACON, Georgia, (October 8, 2013) The local meteorologist called it overcast skies, but the tennis players in Macon called it “perfect tennis weather” as more seasonal temperatures and a bit of a cloud cover greeted players as play began on Tuesday for the 2013 ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon presented by the W.L. Amos Foundation.

Qualifying wrapped up by 1 p.m. with eight players earning spots in the main draw. Qualifying number one seed Di Zhao of China punched her ticket with a straight set win over American Allison Miller. Natalie Pluskota of Sharpsburg, GA won a tight three set match against Michelle Sammons of South Africa. Also earning a place in the main draw was Elizabeth Lumpkin, Emma Hayman of New Zealand, and Danielle Lao of California. Lao upset Lauren Embree, a former University of Florida All-American, 6-2, 7-6.

Speaking of upsets…

The tournament’s No. 2 seed, Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal went down in round one to the number one player from Norway, Ulrikke Eikeri 6-4, 6-1.

Ulrikke Eikeri, Photo: R. Limpert

Larcher De Brito, who gained fame for defeating Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon this year, struggled with the wind at Stratford Academy’s Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center, but she also didn’t have an answer for Eikeri’s serve or forehand.

Eikeri, who missed six months in 2013 with an injury, said she has been working hard to make up for missed time.

“It was hard being out injured, offered up the 20-year old from Oslo. “But I feel better now and confident and feel I’m playing better.”

Eikeri said she’s been concentrating on her serve, and with a lower ball toss, she said she can generate a little more pace.

Eikeri gets an off day from singles on Wednesday and she will be back playing singles on Thursday.

Other winners of note on Tuesday were Canadian Carol Zhao, American Julia Boserup, and former world top-50 player Anna Tatishvili of Georgia.

The doubles draw also began on Tuesday and the seeded duo of Jacqueline Cako and Natalie Pluskota fell to Stephanie Bengston and Madison Brengle.

Play will resume on Wednesday morning at 10 am with the remaining first round main draw singles matches taking place.

Tuesday’s Results (Winners Listed First)

Di ZHAO (CHN) [1]Allison MILLER (USA) WSQ 6-0 7-5

Elizabeth LUMPKIN (USA) [2]Kateryna YERGINA (UKR) WSQ 6-1 7-6(2)

Natalie PLUSKOTA (USA) [3]Michelle SAMMONS (RSA) [10] WSQ 6-3 3-6 6-4

Caitlin WHORISKEY (USA) [4]Anastasia Evgenyevna NEFEDOVA (RUS) [16] WSQ 7-5 6-3

Danielle LAO (USA)Lauren EMBREE (USA) [5] WSQ 6-2 7-6(3)

Piia SUOMALAINEN (FIN) [9]Brittany LASHWAY (USA) WSQ 6-1 7-5

Mari OSAKA (JPN) [7]Anne-Liz JEUKENG (USA) [11] WSQ 6-3 3-6 6-1

Emma HAYMAN (NZL) [8]Kady POOLER (USA) WSQ 6-1 6-0

Jacqueline CAKO (USA)Petra RAMPRE (SLO) [5] WS 6-1 7-5

Ulrikke EIKERI (NOR)Michelle LARCHER DE BRITO (POR) [2] WS 6-4 6-1

Allie KIICK (USA) [7]Mai MINOKOSHI (JPN) WS 6-3 6-0

Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (CRO) [1]Sanaz MARAND (USA) WS 6-2 6-2

Julia BOSERUP (USA)Beatriz HADDAD MAIA (BRA) [8] WS 6-1 6-0

Anna TATISHVILI (GEO) [4]Brooke AUSTIN (USA) WS 6-1 6-4

Emily J. HARMAN (USA) / Elizabeth LUMPKIN (USA)Malika ROSE (USA) / Caitlin WHORISKEY (USA) WD 1-6 7-5 [10-8]

Stephanie BENGSON (AUS) / Madison BRENGLE (USA)Jacqueline CAKO (USA) [2] / Natalie PLUSKOTA (USA) WD 1-6 6-4 [10-4]

Lauren EMBREE (USA) / Allie KIICK (USA)Madeleine KOBELT (USA) / Chiara SCHOLL (USA) WD 6-1 6-1

Khristina BLAJKEVITCH (CAN) / Petra JANUSKOVA (CAN) Brittany LASHWAY (USA) / Rhiann NEWBORN (USA) WDQ 6-3 6-2

—R. Limpert

Monday Results @USTAProCircuit Tennis Classic of Macon, GA

Posted by Admin on October 7, 2013
Posted in: USTA, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Monday Wrap at @USTAProCircuit Tennis Classic of Macon, GA

Stratford Academy, Macon

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, 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

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