Mercer Tennis Classic: Top Seeds Day, Townsend Advance
10/18/2023 10:01:00 PM | Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis
MACON - The first round in singles and doubles is complete at the Mercer Tennis Classic at the John Drew Smith Tennis Center in Macon. The first round play in singles and doubles wrapped up on Wednesday.
This week Taylor Townsend, who is currently ranked No. 77 in singles and No. 8 in the world in doubles, is heading the singles draw. Townsend's presence drew a nice afternoon crowd for a first-round match. Townsend got off to a fast start in nabbing a quick break from Victoria Hu, a rising American player who played some college tennis at Princeton. Townsend showed off a punishing forehand and the ability to take the net when needed to dictate play over her less experienced opponent. 6-2, 6-2, Townsend.
This is where things get interesting for Townsend. She will be looking for revenge on Thursday against McCartney Kessler, another player that hails from Georgia, as she lost to Kessler two weeks ago at a 60K in Rome, Ga.
Wednesday night's match offering featured an Atlanta native in Grace Min and a former Tarheel from North Carolina, Makenna Jones. The players had an even first set, with Jones taking the opener in a tiebreaker. Jones kept capitalizing on Min's mistakes to take a 5-1 lead in the second. But a lot of fight in Grace Min. She clawed back to 5-5 and had points to take a 6-5 lead, but Jones dug in on her serve and closed out the second, 7-5.
University of Georgia sophomore Alexandra Vecic won another close match with a 7-6, 7-6 win to race into the second round. The 21-year-old recently reached the semifinals at ITF events in Spain and Switzerland. Vecic will play on Thursday at 11 a.m. on Court 15.
Notes:
About the John Drew Smith Tennis Center
The John Drew Smith Tennis Center (JDSTC) is regarded as one of the top 25 public municipal facilities in the nation by Tennis Magazine and the United States Tennis Association. It has 22 tennis courts, 6 pickleball courts, a beautiful observation deck and pro shop. The facility is a haven for programming for juniors, adults, and everyone in the community. Historic John Drew Smith Tennis Center is renowned for hosting local, state, and national tennis events. Tennis players not only from the state of Georgia but all over the country, are familiar with JDS. Almost every competitive junior player from the state of Georgia in the last 40 years has played at this renowned facility. The activity is so extensive and the atmosphere is so conducive to tennis that, in 2005, Racquet Sports Industry (RSI) named John Drew Smith Tennis Center the Municipal Facility of the Year.
About the USTA Pro Circuit
With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $15,000 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.
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: mercertennisclassic
This week Taylor Townsend, who is currently ranked No. 77 in singles and No. 8 in the world in doubles, is heading the singles draw. Townsend's presence drew a nice afternoon crowd for a first-round match. Townsend got off to a fast start in nabbing a quick break from Victoria Hu, a rising American player who played some college tennis at Princeton. Townsend showed off a punishing forehand and the ability to take the net when needed to dictate play over her less experienced opponent. 6-2, 6-2, Townsend.
This is where things get interesting for Townsend. She will be looking for revenge on Thursday against McCartney Kessler, another player that hails from Georgia, as she lost to Kessler two weeks ago at a 60K in Rome, Ga.
Wednesday night's match offering featured an Atlanta native in Grace Min and a former Tarheel from North Carolina, Makenna Jones. The players had an even first set, with Jones taking the opener in a tiebreaker. Jones kept capitalizing on Min's mistakes to take a 5-1 lead in the second. But a lot of fight in Grace Min. She clawed back to 5-5 and had points to take a 6-5 lead, but Jones dug in on her serve and closed out the second, 7-5.
University of Georgia sophomore Alexandra Vecic won another close match with a 7-6, 7-6 win to race into the second round. The 21-year-old recently reached the semifinals at ITF events in Spain and Switzerland. Vecic will play on Thursday at 11 a.m. on Court 15.
Notes:
- One former Macon champion is in the main draw field - Kayla Day (2016)
- Again for 2023 are three evenings of night matches during the week.
- 10th Anniversary. The Mercer Tennis Classic will once again feature many of the best women tennis players in the world. It is the second biggest professional tournament in the state of Georgia in terms of prize money (ATP World Tour 250 event - Atlanta Open in July, is the largest). It is also the longest running professional women's tennis tournament in the state of Georgia. The event has been showcased on USTA.com and the Tennis Channel.
- Tickets are available at www.ustamaconclassic.com
- The Mercer Tennis Classic has featured players with major titles, including 2014 Macon singles champ, Kateryna Bondarenko, of Ukraine, and her sister, Alona, who she teamed with to win the 2008 Australian Open Doubles title, and 2010 French Open singles champion Francesca Schiavone, of Italy, who was the tournament's top seed in 2018.
- Live streaming is available on USTA.com
- Tournament volunteers are needed and any help is always appreciated. Call Mercer tennis head coach and tournament director Eric Hayes at (478) 301-2269.
About the John Drew Smith Tennis Center
The John Drew Smith Tennis Center (JDSTC) is regarded as one of the top 25 public municipal facilities in the nation by Tennis Magazine and the United States Tennis Association. It has 22 tennis courts, 6 pickleball courts, a beautiful observation deck and pro shop. The facility is a haven for programming for juniors, adults, and everyone in the community. Historic John Drew Smith Tennis Center is renowned for hosting local, state, and national tennis events. Tennis players not only from the state of Georgia but all over the country, are familiar with JDS. Almost every competitive junior player from the state of Georgia in the last 40 years has played at this renowned facility. The activity is so extensive and the atmosphere is so conducive to tennis that, in 2005, Racquet Sports Industry (RSI) named John Drew Smith Tennis Center the Municipal Facility of the Year.
About the USTA Pro Circuit
With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $15,000 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.
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: mercertennisclassic
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