Southern players and organizations are constantly making their mark in the world of tennis. Here's a list of recent awards, achievements and news in June 2019.
Riske conquers first set bagel to down Bertens for second WTA title
Five match points didn't cloud Alison Riske's vision as she had her sights set on her second WTA title.
Nashville's Riske (pictured above, photo by WTA/Jimmy48 Photography) came back from 0-6, 1-4 to beat top seed Kiki Bertens, 0-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 at the Libéma Open on June 16.
Riske won her first title in her first final appearance in 2014 at Tianjin in 2014, The next six singles finals didn't go her way until she she prevaiied in 'S-Hertogenbosch, in the Netherlands. She moved up to No. 61. Riske's career high was No. 36 in May, 2015.
Riske earned her second victory over a Top 5 player. In 2017 she defeated then-World No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska.
Riske was quoted by WTATennis.com, saying, "I'm just really proud of myself. I looked at the clock, and it was 6-0, 1-0 at 32 minutes in, and I thought, 'I can't possibly be bageled in a final.' I had faith that things would turn around at some point, I just wasn't sure when. I thought maybe it was too late, even when I broke back to make it 4-3, but I stayed in there and I fought for every point."
Chloe Beck, left, and Emma Navarro |
Beck/Navarro reign in Paris
Emma Navarro and Chloe Beck have continued to prove they are the top American girls doubles team by taking the French Open crown with a 6-1, 6-2 trashing of the fourth-seeded duo from Russia, Anastasia Tikhonova/Alina Charaeva. The unseded Americans knocked out the fourth-seeded opponents by taking four of six break points while defending the only break point they faced. Beck, of Watkinsville, GA, and Navarro, of Charleston, SC,
Beck/Navarro also defeated the fourth seeds in a grueling semifnal 6-3, 3-6, 17-15.
The Southern teenagers have a WTA Premier-level main draw victory, knocking off former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and Darija Jurak 1-6, 6-3, 13-11 in this year's Volvo Car Open. The duo has teamed up for years on the USTA junior circuit, winning at least three national championships (including the two Easter Bowls) over the last few years.
Navarro reaches girls' final
Eigth-seed Navarro nearly made it a Parisian double by reaching the girls’ singles final. But, she lost to the top-seeded Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez 6-3, 6-2.
Navarro downed the fifth seed Qinwen Zheng in the semi 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 and ninth-seed Kamilla Bartone in the third round.
The Charleston, SC, resident is the reigning tje Girls’ 18s at the Adidas Easter Bowl champion.
Young into Columbus doubles final
Atlanta's Donald Young teams with Mexico's Hans Hach Verdugo to reach the Challenger 80 Columbus (OH) tournament. They fell to Roberto Maytin and Jackson Withrow 67(4), 7-6(2), 10-5.
Collins reaches Wesley Chapel final
Kylie Collins and American Sofia Sewing were the top seeds in the Wesley Chapel $15K tournament. However, they fell to the third-seed team from California. Allura and Maribella Zamarripa are twins who won the final 3-6, 6-4, 13-11.