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

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.

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