Troy University Athletics
Main Draw Begins at USTA Classic
10/12/2010 9:53:19 PM | General
Main Draw Singles Order of Play Agate
Main Draw Doubles Qualifying Singles
Main Draw Play Begins at USTA Tennis Classic of Troy
Tuesday saw the qualifying rounds of the USTA Tennis Classic of Troy come to an end, and the main draw began. The qualifying action ended with the final four spots on the line, and the qualifiers did battle first on Tuesday.
Chichi Scholl, Valeria Solovieva, Grace Min and Alexis King earned their way into the tournament field.
King and Min highlighted the days action though as knocked seeded qualifiers from the qualifying round.
Min knocked off third-seeded Macall Harkins in three sets to earn the upset bid. The 16-year-old took the first set 6-3, but fell in the second set 6-7 in three tie breakers. The third set though is where Min took charge and won the match with a 6-3 set victory.
King won her upset bid in three sets as well, but in different fashion. King knocked off fifth-seeded Alexandra Mueller in three sets, but she fell in the first. Mueller, 22, who has won at the professional level in recent tournament appearances, was bounced from the tournament field when King marched back in the second set with a 6-3 victory. King also took the third set 7-6 with eight tie breakers making this one of the more entertaining matches of the day.
Rain managed to hold off the doubles action that was slated for Tuesday, and those matches are set to begin on Wednesday afternoon. The rain also forced out all but one of the main draw matches in singles play as well.
In the lone main draw match of the day, eighth-seeded Laura Siegemund defeated Brie Whitehead in dominant fashion 6-0, 6-0.
Tournament action continues on Wednesday with make-up matches scheduled from rain on Tuesday as well as the regular Wednesday slate. The start time for Wednesday matches has been moved to 9:00 am to allow for the heavy schedule.
Wednesday will also feature the tennis clinic for the Boys and Girls Club of Troy. The club members will get an opportunity to learn from the professional ranks about the game of tennis.
Siegemund Makes Strides Towards Goals
The USTA Tennis Classic of Troy brings an international spectrum of athletes to the Troy area. The athletes come to compete in the $50,000 tournament field, and the general consensus of the Troy Classic is that it prepares them for great things to come in the tennis world.
Laura Siegemund came to Troy as part of her USTA stretch to help her not only try to win a tournament title, but she hopes to earn rankings points to get her into some of the world's top tournaments.
"This tournament is great, and it really fits into my schedule," Siegemund said. "I've been here in the United States for a month and competed in four tournaments before coming here to Troy. I'll probably compete in two or three more before I return home to compete in some European tournaments."
Siegemund calls Germany home, and she said she spends about half of the year in the United States competing in USTA events.
The goal for her is simple. She wants to earn her way to a high ranking, and she plans on gaining the needed points here at the Troy Classic.
"If I can win a few matches here then it will get me into the qualifying field for the Australian Open," Siegemund said. "I'm really hoping to do well here so I don't have my back against the wall in the upcoming tournaments trying to gain points."
Siegemund is looking forward to enjoying some of the things the city has to offer while she is here as well. She managed to fit a Troy Trojans football game into her schedule last time she was here, and if she plays well enough to make the weekend field of athletes she plans to attend a game again.
"Football is really intense here," Siegemund said. "It's pretty wild how that many people will go to one place and cheer so loud. It's really crazy, and last time I was here I really liked the game. It's all just so exciting."
Like the football game she saw last year, Siegemund plays an intense round of tennis. She is known for trying to gun her way to the net in aggressive style, and she looks to spread her opponent around the court.
The overall eighth seed in the tournament got things off to a good start on Tuesday in main draw action. She won her match in the opening round of main draw play, and she's striving in each match to make it to the weekend.
