Mercer Tennis Classic: Varvara Lepchenko is 2018 Singles Champ

MACON, Ga. - Varvara Lepchenko was the best player all week in Macon and she took the singles title at th 2018 edition of the Mercer Tennis Classic, a USTA Pro Circuit women's 80K event that ran through Sunday.

Lepchenko didn't drop a set the entire tournament, but she was pushed in the singles final by a fiesty Veronica Cepede Royg. Cepede Royg, a 26-year old from Paraguay fell in a close 6-4, 6-4 match.

"It was close," stated Lepchenko following winning her first tournament title of 2018. "I'm hoping this is a good way to finish off the year."

Lepchenko has been playing well of late with quarterfinal appearances in WTA events in Chicago and Quebec City.

"I want to thank my coach- he came all the way from Spain this week," added Lepchenko, who became an American citizen almost seven years ago and resides in Allentown, Pa. "It's just been a great week in Macon, the tournament director, the staff, the ballkids and sponsors deserve thanks."

Lepchenko used her driving backhand down-the-line to keep Cepede Royg from setting up any offensive attack. The two traded service breaks early in the first set, but it was Lepchenko that won the important points late in the opener.

"It was important to close out that first set," explained Lepchenko. "I ran into some trouble late in the match, but came through."

Even though both finalists played two matches on Saturday, they appeared fresh and the quality of play was high.

A west wind picked up late in the match and caused Cepede Royg to make a few mishits down the stretch, giving Lepchenko the openings she needed.

Lepchenko is a WTA Tour veteran who has been ranked as No. 19 in the world. She has finished in the top-100 in the world rankings for the last seven years and she's trying to make it eight.

In the doubles final, the team of Caty McNally and Jessica Pegula jumped out to quick 5-0 lead to start the match and held on to win in a match tiebreaker 6-1, 5-7, {11-9}. There was tremendous fan support for doubles all this week in Macon.

Sunday's Finals:
Singles: Varvara Lepchenko (USA) def. Veronica Cepede Royg (PAR) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles: Caty McNally (USA)/Jessica Pegula (USA) def. Anna Danilina (KAZ)/Ingrid Neel (USA) 6-1, 5-7, {11-9}

Note: Saturday's and Sunday's matches were televised live on Tennis Channel.

Fast Facts:

There are 20 different countries represented in the main draws of the 2018 Mercer Tennis Classic.

Varvara Lepchenko has now won 12 career ITF singles titles.

Now in its sixth year and second year as an 80K event, the Mercer Tennis Classic will once again showcase a 32 player singles draw and 16 doubles teams in Macon. It's eight days of fan friendly tennis and now the second biggest professional tournament in the state of Georgia in terms of prize money (ATP World Tour 250 event - BB&T Atlanta Open in July is largest). It is also the longest running professional women's tennis tournament in the state of Georgia.

The Mercer Tennis Classic has featured players with major titles. 2014 Macon singles champ, Kateryna Bondarenko, of Ukraine, and her sister, Alona, teamed with to win the 2008 Australian Open Doubles title. The Bondarenko Sisters have played doubles in Macon. In 2017, 2010 French Open singles champion, Francesca Schiavone of Italy was the top seed and advanced to the second round.

Players come to Macon to play for $80,000 in prize money, valuable WTA ranking points and in the past, a spot in the first major of 2018, the Australian Open in Melbourne. A women's wild card will be awarded to the American with the highest cumulative total of WTA singles ranking points earned from their best three results during four weeks, at three $80,000 USTA Pro Circuit women's events (main draw points only) and one WTA $125,000 event (main draw and qualifying points).

Only Americans who do not earn direct entry into the Australian Open are eligible. In the event of a tie, the player with the best ATP or best WTA singles ranking on Nov. 19 will be awarded the wild card.

This year, a minimum of 20 former Macon participants were in the main draw at the first three majors

Highlights of the week include the Tuesday Pro Am and Player/Sponsor party, and an annual event with free lessons, food and more. Also the players will make visits to area schools to promote tennis as a lifetime sport and the professional event.

Net Generation Activities
There was a Net Generation demonstration onsite Saturday afternoon. Kids were on short courts showing off their skills.

Net Therapy Program
Run by the Macon Tennis Association, players that participate in the Net Therapy program at John Drew Smith Tennis Center walked the players to the court on Saturday and conducted the coin toss. The program is run by local tennis volunteer Julie Eddlemon.

Robin Bateman Night: On Monday night, October 22, a special ceremony and clinic was held in honor of Robin Bateman. Bateman is the longtime tennis coordinator at Tattnall Square Tennis Center.

The ceremony, held at Mercer University's Leroy Peddy Tennis Center, started at 5:30 pm and was followed by drills with professionals in the USTA Pro Circuit event and pizza.

Tournament volunteers are needed and any help is always appreciated. Call Mercer tennis coach and tournament director Eric Hayes at (478) 301-2269.

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). With a digital scoreboard featuring real-time scoring of matches, 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. The USTA launched its Pro Circuit in 1979 to provide 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. Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard, John Isner, Madison Keys, Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, Sam Querrey and Caroline Wozniacki are among today's top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.

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: @USTAMacon80K
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaconTennisClassic/
Instagram: wl_amos_tennis
Hashtags: #USTAProCircuit #MercerTennisClassic

Mercer Tennis Classic: Varvara Lepchenko is 2018 Singles Champ

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