No. 1 Seed Crawford Advances, Townsend Upset in W.L. Amos Action

MACON, Ga. -- Singles qualifying was completed and first-round main draw singles and doubles matches got underway on Tuesday at Mercer University's Leroy Peddy Tennis Center, players trying to earn spots in the singles main draw of the W.L.Amos Sr. Tennis Classic.

It was a good day to be an American as four American players advanced through qualifying and young American upstarts in No. 1 seed, Samantha Crawford and No. 4 seed, Grace Min powered their way into the second rounds.

Crawford, having her best year in 2016, served her way past WTA Tour vet Michaella Krajicek 7-5, 7-6(4). Crawford, who reached the second round at Wimbledon this year and grew up nearby in Atlanta used her big first and second serves to set up forehand and backhand winners. The pace of Crawford's shots frustrated Krajicek, a former top-30 player. Crawford now faces another American, and one of the top junior players in the world, Kayla Day, in the next round on Thursday.

Min who also hails from the Atlanta area defeated former USC Trojan, Sabrina Santamaria 6-3, 6-3. Former USC All-American Danielle Lao won a battle with another former college standout in Kristie Ahn, who played for Stanford.

The upset of the day saw American Taylor Townsend fall to Jamie Loeb, who played her collegiate tennis at North Carolina 7-5, 6-2. Loeb mixed in drop shots and lobs while not being afraid to approach the net to end points. Townsend was caught off balance through most of the second set after a hard fought opening set.

In qualifying No. 1 seed, Aloyna Sotnikova of Ukraine fell 6-1, 6-2 to American Alexandra Mueller. Also advancing to the main draw were Americans Ingrid Neel, Emina Betkas and Danielle Rose Collins.

matches begin at 11:30 am on Tuesday with No. 4 seed, Grace Min and No. 5 seed, Taylor Townsend both in action. Both Min and Townsend have ties to the Atlanta area. Doubles action will begin on Tuesday around 1:30.

"We are just getting started for the week," said Eric Hayes, tournament director and Head Coach of the Mercer University tennis teams. "We've had some great tennis and long matches, but the best tennis this week is still to come."

Tuesday night at the Mercer courts was also the site of the annual pro am and players/sponsor party. Tennis players from the Macon community paired up with the pros for some friendly play and a nice party thrown by the event's staff.

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 professional 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.

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. Play will begin each morning and continue until the slate of matches in singles and doubles is finished for the day.

Wednesday's matches begin at 10 a.m.

Tuesday's Results:
WSQ Danielle Rose COLLINS (USA) d [2] Yuliya BEYGELZIMER (UKR) [6] 6-3 7-6(5)
Emina BEKTAS (USA) d Ronit YUROVSKY (USA) 6-3 7-5
Alexandra MUELLER (USA) d Alyona SOTNIKOVA (UKR) [1] 6-1 6-2
Ingrid NEEL (USA) d Pia KONIG (AUT) [4] 6-4 6-2
Jamie LOEB (USA) d Taylor TOWNSEND (USA) [5] 7-5 6-2
Grace MIN (USA) [4] d Sabrina SANTAMARIA (USA) 6-3 6-3
Danielle LAO (USA) d Kristie AHN (USA) 6-4 6-4
Samantha CRAWFORD (USA) d [1] Michaella KRAJICEK (NED) 7-5 7-6(4)
Chanel SIMMONDS (RSA) d Alexa GUARACHI (CHI) 6-4 6-0
13:00 WS Kayla DAY (USA) d Bernarda PERA (USA) 6-2 6-3
Sanaz MARAND (USA) [3] / Ingrid NEEL (USA) d Quinn GLEASON (USA) / Amanda RODGERS6 (-U0S 6A-)1
Kristie AHN (USA) / Jamie LOEB (USA) d Ema BURGIC BUCKO (BIH) / Jasmina TINJIC2 -(6B I6H-3) [[41]0-4]
Sabrina SANTAMARIA (USA) / Keri WONG (USA) d Alize LIM (FRA) [2] / Rebecca PETERSON (S1W-6E )7-6(4) [10-7]

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

No. 1 Seed Crawford Advances, Townsend Upset in W.L. Amos Action

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