The Tennis Classic of Macon Day One Update
10/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
MACON, Ga. -- Sixteen Americans began play in singles qualifying for the 2105 Tennis Classic of Macon on Sunday morning at Mercer University's Leroy Peddy Tennis Center under overcast skies. That is one half of the qualifying draw of this USTA Pro Circuit event taking place October 25 - November 1, 2015. Nine made it to round two.
Nina Stojanovic, a 19-year old from Serbia ranked No. 287 in the world is the top seed in the qualifying draw.
American and former Wimbledon and U.S. Open doubles champion, Vania King posted an early qualifying win on Sunday morning with a 7-6 (5) 6-1 victory over Alyona Sotnikova of the Ukraine. King has only played a few events since being out of action for 12 months with a herniated disc in her neck.
"It's my second day playing on these courts and yesterday it was hot, but today it's a little chilly," offered up King postmatch. "It really changed the speed of the balls as the balls were getting very heavy. It took me a while to get used to it. I just need to get through the first couple matches and I will get better and better."
Two players with local ties are were also in action on Sunday, but fell in their opening matches. Jordan Bowie, a high school player from Macon and Aikaterini Stavroulaki, from Greece, who is a junior on the Mercer University women's tennis team each lost, Bowie to Lindsay Lee-Waters, a veteran American player and Stavroulaki was defeated by American, Michaela Gordon.
Former University of Georgia player, Lauren Herring won the last match of the day. It ended up being a 3 hour and 36 minute marathon over Ana Sofia Sanchez of Mexico.
The W.L. Amos Sr. Foundation is the primary sponsor of this 50K event where U.S. players can earn points for the USTA's wildcard into the 2016 Australian Open.
Tournament director and Mercer University Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach Eric Hayes says the fans turning out on Sunday were treated to some great tennis.
"It shows that we keep getting some great young players to Macon. The cutoffs for the qualifying and singles main draws were high, and just wait until you see the quality doubles draw."
Today's Results:
WSQ Sandra SAMIR (EGY) Maggie MOODY (USA) 6-0 6-0
WSQ Nadia PODOROSKA (ARG) [4] Lisa-Maria MOSER (AUT) 6-4 7-5
WSQ Vania KING (USA) Alyona SOTNIKOVA (UKR) [5] 7-6(5) 6-1
WSQ Maegan MANASSE (USA) Julia JONES (USA) 7-6(5) 2-6 6-2
WSQ Ingrid NEEL (USA) Petra RAMPRE (SLO) [7] 6-3 6-2
WSQ Sofiya KOVALETS (UKR) Chanel SIMMONDS (RSA) [2] 7-6(3) 6-0
WSQ Jacqueline CAKO (USA) Anastasia Evgenyevna NEFEDOVA (RUS) 6-1 6-4
WSQ Angelina ZHURAVLEVA (RUS) Katerina KRAMPEROVA (CZE) 7-5 6-2
WSQ Nina STOJANOVIC (SRB) [1] Usue Maitane ARCONADA (USA) 7-5 3-6 6-4
WSQ Michaela GORDON (USA) Aikaterini STAVROULAKI (GRE) 6-0 6-0
WSQ Angelina GABUEVA (RUS) Keri WONG (USA) 7-6(3) 7-6(4)
WSQ Jan ABAZA (USA) [8] Caroline PRICE (USA) 6-0 6-7(5) 6-4
WSQ Chiara SCHOLL (USA) Renata ZARAZUA (MEX) 6-2 6-2
WSQ Lindsay LEE-WATERS (USA) Jordan BOWIE (USA) 6-2 6-2
WSQ Lauren HERRING (USA) Ana Sofia SANCHEZ (MEX) [3] 6-7(0) 6-3 7-5
WSQ Diana MARCINKEVICA (LAT) [6] Sophie CHANG (USA) 6-1 6-4
Play all week will take place on the campus of Mercer University where there is easy parking and fans can come and and go as they please with a day or week pass.
Tournament Alumni:
Former Tennis Classic of Macon players, Ajla Tomljanovic and Madison Brengle have been fixtures in the WTA top 50 for 2015.
Live streaming of the USTA Pro Circuit can be viewed on the USTA Pro Circuit's website at www.procircuit.usta.com.
Tickets are available at $5 per day and $20 for the entire week. Call Mercer tennis coach and tournament director Eric Hayes at (478) 301-2269.
About the USTA Pro Circuit
With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2014, the USTA Pro Circuit provides players with the opportunity to gain professional ranking points, and it has since grown to become the largest developmental tennis circuit in the world, offering nearly $3 million in prize money. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries competed in cities nationwide. John Isner, Maria Sharapova, Sam Querrey, Sloane Stephens, Victoria Azarenka and Andy Murray are among today's top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.
The Leroy Peddy Tennis Center at Mercer University
The LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center is the home for Mercer University men's and women's tennis. The facility is located just inside the South campus entrance, nestled among its pine tree lined western perimeter and adjacent to MU's softball stadium and practice fields. The Center features a total of eight courts, aligned in a picturesque bi-level configuration (four courts each on the upper and lower tiers). The lighted venue also has ample parking and seating for fans on either level and a park-like walkway for access between the two sections.
The W.L. Amos Sr. Foundation
The W.L. Amos Sr. Foundation is the presenting sponsor of the tournament
Middle Georgia Tennis Foundation
The mission of the Middle Georgia Tennis Foundation is to raise funds to support tennis programs, especially youth programs in Middle Georgia.
For more information:
On-site PR contact: Rick Limpert (209) 920-7425 or email: Rick.Limpert@gmail.com
Website: www.ustamaconclassic.com
Twitter: @USTAMacon50K
Facebook: The Tennis Classic of Macon
