Mercer Tennis Classic: Quarterfinals Set for Friday

MACON, Ga. - Perfect Chamber of Commerce weather on Thursday with temperatures in the 70's and light winds at the 2019 Mercer Tennis Classic. It was a good day to be an American in Macon and seven American players reached Friday's quarterfinals of the annual 80K event.

Matches started at 10am with Americans Katerina Stewart and Caroline Dolehide taking the court. Dolehide has had an impressive 2019, with her ranking currently sitting at No. 166 in the world. Stewart is returning to professional tennis after a well documented stint at the U.S. Military Academy at Westpoint. Stewart was in good form in this one. She kept a hard-hitting Dolehide at bay with deep groundstrokes. Dolehide tried to press the issue with trips to the net, but Stewart found the range with her passing shots in the deciding set to take the match, 6-4 3-6 6-3.

"I'm getting a little more comfortable with each match," explained Stewart. "The weather has messed me up a little bit. It's cool in the morning, but I'm glad it warms up. I'm from Miami, so I'm glad it warms up."

Stewart said a match like this is all part of the process of finding her way back to professional tennis.

"Patience is key. I've been at this level before, so I know what to expect. It doesn't even mean I belong at this level yet, but I know how much I need to work. All I need is time to get back to where I want to be."

A great matchup on Court 1 to start the day. No. 2 seed, Whitney Osuigwe took on a current college player in Elysia Bolton, who plays for UCLA. The match went back and forth. Both players hat hot streaks and cold streaks, but it was Osuigwe in the end who was a little more consistent and took the three-setter.

Among the other winners on Thursday included: Danielle Lao, Coco Vandeweghe, Shelby Rogers and Irina Falconi.

Falconi, a former Georgia Tech standout, fought off a match point to defeat tournament top-seed, Astra Sharma. After taking the opening set, Falconi's level of play dropped in the second and halfway through the third. She then took control and Sharma's errors started piling up.

Falconi has been on the sidelines for most of the year with an injury.

All quarterfinal matches on Friday.

Thursday's Results:
Whitney OSUIGWE (USA) [2] Elysia BOLTON (USA) 2-6 6-4 6-4
Katerina STEWART (USA) Caroline DOLEHIDE (USA) [7] 6-4 3-6 6-3
Grace MIN (USA) Giuliana OLMOS (MEX) 6-3 6-2
Shelby ROGERS (USA) Usue Maitane ARCONADA (USA) [5] 6-0 6-1
Irina FALCONI (USA) Astra SHARMA (AUS) [1] 6-3 1-6 7-5
Coco VANDEWEGHE (USA) Marina MELNIKOVA (RUS) 7-6(6) 6-4
Danielle LAO (USA) Ann LI (USA) [6] 6-2 6-4
Stefanie VOEGELE (SUI) [3] Sanaz MARAND (USA) 6-2 6-0

Jaimee FOURLIS (AUS) / Valentini GRAMMATIKOPOULOU Johanna LARSSON (SWE) / Mandy MINELLA (LUX) [1] 6-1 7-6(6)
Alexandra MUELLER (USA) / Sophia WHITTLE (USA) Giuliana OLMOS (MEX) / Whitney OSUIGWE (USA) 6-4 6-2
Suzan LAMENS (NED) / Marina MELNIKOVA (RUS) Ellen PEREZ (AUS) [2] / Astra SHARMA (AUS)4-6 7-5 [10-7]
Usue Maitane ARCONADA (USA) [3] / Caroline DOLEHIDE Sanaz MARAND (USA) / Ingrid NEEL (USA) 6-3 3-6 [10-8]

The top seeded doubles team for the week, Johanna Larsson and Mandy Minella were defeated in the second round.

On Wednesday, the Mercer Tennis Classic hosted a Net Generation Kid's Day attended by up to 100 junior tennis players.

Mark your calendars for a week of events.

Friday October 25 - Quarterfinal matches
Saturday October 26 - Semifinal matches
Sunday October 27 - Finals at times TBD

For 2019, the Tennis Channel will once again be in Macon. This year they will cover the first rounds on its online platform, and the semifinals and finals will be live on Tennis Channel

"It's a testament to how much our event has grown and the quality of field we get each year that the Tennis Channel would want to come to Macon and show live coverage. This is unprecedented coverage and exposure for not only Mercer, but for the city of Macon and Middle Georgia."

Now in its seventh year and third year as an 80K event, the Mercer Tennis Classic will once again feature a weeklong 32 player singles draw and 16 doubles teams in Macon. It's seven 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 the 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 champ, Francesca Schiavone of Italy was the top seed.

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 2020, 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 upcoming events. 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 WTA singles ranking, will be awarded the wildcard.

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, along with surprises during the week!

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

Tournament Facts:
Mercer Tennis Classic
A USTA Pro Circuit Event
Oct. 21-27, 2019
Leroy Peddy Tennis Center
Macon, Ga.
Purse: $80,000
Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Tournament Director: Eric Hayes

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

Mercer Tennis Classic: Quarterfinals Set for Friday

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