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 October 2017.
USTA Leage Teams Shine at USTA National Championships
Women's 40 & Over 3.0
The women’s tennis team from Charlotte, NC representing USTA Southern, captured the national title at the USTA League Adult 40 & Over 3.0 National Championships held at the Lauderdale Tennis Club in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
The Charlotte team defeated a team from Exton, Pa., in the Championship match. Earlier in the day, the Charlotte team defeated a team from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, 3-2 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight contested Friday and Saturday.
The team is captained by Jill Griset and features Diane Horner, Elyssa Del Valle, Janet Cohen, Jill Griset, Jurgita Petrikis, Kristin Bergeson, Leslie Masucci, Rachel Drees, Rosalie O'Rourke and Tamara Gallagher and plays at the Blakeney Racquet and Swim Club.
Men's 18 & Over 4.0
The men’s tennis team from Jackson, Miss., representing USTA Southern, captured the national title at the USTA League Adult 18 & Over 4.0 National Championships held at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Ariz.
The Jackson team defeated a team from La Habra, Calif., 4-1 in the Championship match. Earlier in the day, the Jackson team defeated a team from Houston, 3-2 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight contested Friday and Saturday.
The team is captained by Paul Kimble and features Jeffrey Rickels, Sean Merchant, Stewart Gammill, Don Jones, Daniel McFatter, Flint Christian, Johnston Walker, Jackson Brister, Russell Dendy, Brighton Lowther, Mark Adair, Alan McCormick and plays at the Parham Bridges Tennis Center.
Women's 40 & Over 4.5
The women’s tennis team from Louisville representing the USTA Southern Section, was declared co-champions along with a team from Tampa, FL at the USTA League 40 and over 4.5 Women’s National Championships held at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala.
The Louisville team was schedule to face Tampa in the championship match of the 4.5 contest, but it was rained out, and officials declared both teams as co-champions. Earlier, the Louisville team defeated a team from Oklahoma City, Okla., 3-2 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight contested Friday and Saturday.
The team is captained by Anna Curley and features Allison Scanlan, Cackie Billman, Claudia Westbrooks, Colleen Underhill, Jan Barrett Deener, Marnie Ochoa, Mary King, Spencer Moorman, Stacy Trinkle, Tanna Jones, and Vanessa Dixon, and plays at the Blairwood Tennis Swim and Fitness Club in Louisville.
Women's 18 & Over 2.5
The women’s tennis team from Memphis representing the USTA Southern Section, wound up as co-champions with three other teams for the national title at the USTA League Adult 18 & Over Women’s 2.5 National Championships held at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama.
The Memphis team was scheduled to play in the semifinal rounds on Sunday morning against Bellevue, Wash. But that match, along with the other semifinal pitting Chesterville, Mo., against Jacksonville, Fla., was rained out. As a result, all four teams were named co-champions.
Memphis is captained by Lisa Edwards and features Angela Brackett, Christy Butcher, Cindy Cummings, Karen Vasil, Karin Rubnitz, Katrina Moore, Rhonda Katzman, and Tracy Pope, and plays at the Leftwich Tennis Center.
Other results from 18 & Over tournaments:
- Adult 18 & Over 5.0 Men in Orlando, Fla. Intermountain (Denver) def. USTA Southern (Atlanta) finalists
- Adult 18 & Over 3.0 Men in Surprize, Ariz. Caribbean (Mayaguez, P.R.) def. Southern (Ridgeland, Miss.), 3-2, finalists
- Adult 18 & Over 5.0 Women in Orlando, Fla.: USTA Southern (Nashville, Tenn.) third place def. Mid-Atlantic (Richmond, Va.), 2-1
- Adult 40 & Over 4.0 Men in Orlando, Fla. Mid-Atlantic (Washington, D.C.) def. Southern (New Orleans), 4-1, fourth place
2017 5.0 Men’s finalists are,L to R: Carl Abalos, Kevin Ye, Damon Costner, captain Marc Kim,
Jesse Ferlianto, Andy Sobczyk, Yauheni Silitski, Mark Billson.
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Atlanta team reaches national final
The men’s tennis team from Atlanta, representing USTA Southern , finished second at the USTA League National Adult 18 & Over 5.0 National Championships held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, FL.
The Atlanta team lost to a team from Denver in the Championship match. Earlier in the day, the Atlanta team defeated a team from Montgomery, Maryland, 2-1 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight contested Friday and Saturday.
The team is captained by Marc Kim and features Carl Abalos, Kevin Ye, Damon Costner, Jesse Ferlianto, Andy Sobczyk, Yauheni Silitski and Mark Billson and plays at Oglethorpe University.
Townsend doubles up another double win USTA Pro Circuit singles titles
Atlanta native Taylor Townsend won her fifth USTA Pro Circuit singles title at the $25,000 McLeod for Health Florence (SC) Open, along with the doubles title.
Just the previous week, Townsend pulled off both titles in the $25,000 Sumter (SC) Pink Open.
In Florence, top-seed Townsend defeated Ysaline Bonaventure 6-1, 7-5. In doubles, she teamed up with Maria Sanchez as the top seeds. They defeated Tara Moore/Amra Sadikovic 6-1, 6-2. Matches were played at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.
At the $25,000 Sumter (SC) Pink Ope, Townsend defeated the seventh seed, Norway's Ulrikke Eikeri, 6-2, 6-1. The matches were played at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
In the doubles final, Townsend and Jessica Pegula beat Alexandra Mueller and Caitlin Whoriskey 4-6, 7-5 [10-5].
Kwiatkowski wins USTA Pro Circuit singles titles
Reigning NCAA singles champion Thai-Son Kwiatkowski has already made his mark as a pro.
The Charlotte, NC, resident captured the Texas Tamale Company Houston Cup presented by Propel Docs with a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Sebastian Korda. The tournament had a purse of $25,000.
Kwiatknowski also reached the doubles final with Austin Krajicek. They fell to Aron Hiltzik and Dennis Nevolo 7-6(3) 6-3 in a final played by four Americans.
Tennessee's Sandgren loses final in California
Tennys Sandgren continued to have success in 2017 as he reached the $100K Tiburon (CA) Challenger presented by Wells Fargo.
Sandgren, of Gallatin, TN, rose to No. 97 in the world after his loss to Carmeron Norrie 6-2, 6-3. That is the highest ranking of the 26-year-old's career.