Americans Advance in W.L. Amos, Sr. Tennis Classic in Macon Qualifying

MACON, Ga. -- Singles qualifying began on Sunday at Mercer University's Leroy Peddy Tennis Center, with 32 players competing for four spots in the singles main draw of the W.L.Amos Sr. Tennis Classic.

Americans Jessica Ho and Alexandra Mueller got the red, white and blue off to a good start on Sunday with first round wins. Ho defeated Anastasia Evgenyevna Nefedova of Russia, 6-3, 6-4. Mueller rode her big serve to a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Anna Turati of Italy.

Qualifying No. 1 seed, Aloyna Sotnikova of Ukraine downed Lindsay Lee-Waters, 6-1, 6-1. In the longest match of the day, former Notre Dame standout, Quinn Gleason outlasted Ashley Kratzer in a 2 hour and 57 minute contest.

Now in its fourth year, the W.L. Amos Sr. Tennis Classic, a USTA Pro Circuit 50K event, brings a 32 player singles draw and 16 doubles teams to Macon with a 32 player qualifying draw the first weekend. It's eight days of world class tennis and the longest running professional women's tennis tournament in the state of Georgia.

As in the past, players come to Macon to play for $50,000 in prize money, valuable WTA ranking points and a spot in the first major of 2017, the Australian Open.

A "Kid's Clinic" took place Sunday afternoon at adjacent Tatnall Tennis Center and over 150 young tennis players took part in tennis drills and learned the basics of tennis with local teaching pros, members of the Mercer University Tennis Teams and professional players.

Former U.S. Open quarterfinalist, Melanie Oudin, of Marietta, Ga. is also entered as is Macon defending singles champion, Rebecca Peterson of Sweden.

Past players include many current top-100 players including: Madison Brengle, Shelby Rodgers, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Nicole Gibbs, Louisa Chirico and 2015 champ Kateryna Bondarenko. It's also an event where many top junior players get their start on the professional stage.

Many players that have played in Macon have spent time in the top-100 in the world and 20 former "Classic" players were in the main draw at the U.S. Open in New York, last month. Highlights of the week include the Pro Am and Player/Sponsor party, and the annual "Kid's Clinic" event with free lessons, food and more on Sunday, October 23. Also the players will make visits to local schools to promote tennis as a lifetime sport and the professional event. Play will begin each morning and continue until the slate of matches in singles and doubles is finished for the day.

Play begins at 10 a.m. on Monday with second round singles qualifying.

Sunday's Results:
Ema BURGIC BUCKO (BIH) d. [5] Sophie CHANG (USA) 6-4 6-3
Alyona SOTNIKOVA (UKR) d.[1] Lindsay LEE-WATERS (USA) 6-1 6-1
Jessica HO (USA) d. Anastasia Evgenyevna NEFEDOVA (RUS) 6-4 6-3
Alexandra MUELLER (USA) d. Anna TURATI (ITA) 6-3 6-3
Ronit YUROVSKY (USA) d. Alexandra SANFORD (USA) [7] 6-1 6-2
Sanaz MARAND (USA) d. [3] Maria MATEAS (USA) 6-2 6-4
Emina BEKTAS (USA) d. Rebecca RUBANOV (USA) 6-1 6-0
Ellie DOUGLAS (USA) d. Elizabet VERIZOVA (USA) 6-0 6-3
Michaela GORDON d. (USA) Whitney OSUIGWE (USA) 6-2 6-1
Quinn GLEASON (USA) d. Ashley KRATZER (USA) [8] 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3
Ingrid NEEL (USA) d. Mari OSAKA (JPN) 6-3 6-4
Nika KUKHARCHUK d. (RUS) Amanda RODGERS (USA) 6-4 6-4
Pia KONIG (AUT) [4] d. Amy ZHU (USA) 6-3 6-1
Danielle Rose COLLINS (USA) [2] d. Jade LEWIS (NZL) 6-2 6-1
Yuliya BEYGELZIMER (UKR) [6] d. Ann Maria ADAMS (USA) 6-0 6-0
Catherine HARRISON (USA) d. Bianca TURATI (ITA) 6-3 5-7 6-2

About the Leroy Peddy Tennis Center
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.

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. In 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, Mardy Fish, Victoria Azarenka and Andy Murray are among today's top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.

The W.L. Amos Sr. Foundation
The W.L. Amos Sr. Foundation is the title 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: https://www.facebook.com/WL-Amos-Sr-Tennis-Classic

Mercer University Athletics

Americans Advance in W.L. Amos, Sr. Tennis Classic in Macon Qualifying

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