American Men Advance in French Qualifying
Dangerous Denis Kudla
Denis Kudla, Michael Russell, Jesse Levine, Bobby Reynolds and Alex Kuznetsov advanced to the second round of qualifying at Roland Garros today. Kudla needed three sets to dispatch 29 seed James Ward of Great Britain, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Reynolds also won a three-setter in convincing fashion over KazakhYuri Schukin, 6-0, 6-7 (1), 6-2. Levine won 2 and 2 against France’s Julien Obry. Michael Russell perservered in a very tight 4, 6 and 7 win from German Simon Greul, while Kuznetsov eked it out over fellow American Michael Yani, 7-6(3), 7-5.
The American men will mostly have an off day tomorrow. The exception is Michael Russell, who will take the court for a second round match not before 3:00 p.m.
Eight American women are scheduled for tomorrow’s first round qualifying. Coco Vandeweghe, Madison Brengle, Alexa Glatch, Alison Riske, Lauren Davis, Julia Cohen, Jill Craybas and Gail Brodsky will begin their quest for main draw berths tomorrow. Craybas and Brodsky will meet on Court 16, where only one American will advance from the match.
Memory Lane: Rando Photos from Racquet Club of the South #USTA
Here’s ten more shots from this month’s Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs in Norcross, Georgia. Until a Tumblr account is opened, there is where the photos will come to rest. And Happy New Year, y’all. Thanks for visiting the site in 2011, and special thanks to experienced bloggers and USTA reps for offering advice. Let’s bump into each other next year. See you in Charleston, Newport, DC, Atlanta, NYC, Charlottesville and Knoxville?
Nobody is more comfortable on a court than Rhyno.
Australian Open Women’s Wild Card Final, Post-Match Ceremony Video
THE MATCH: ONLY REGRET WAS NOT GETTING THE ENTIRE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM
Fans: She's got 'em
APRES LE MATCH: BRODSKY ACKNOWLEDGES “BUTT KICKING”
Australian Open Wild Card Video: Patrick McEnroe on Bogomolov’s Defection to Russian Davis Cup
USTA Player Development General Manager Patrick McEnroe told the media on Friday that while he personally harbors no ill feelings for Alex Bogomolov’s jump to Russia to play for the Kremlin’s Davis Cup team, he did indicate that the USTA is looking into requiring him to reimburse American tennis for their exhaustive support of his career to date. Was McEnroe convincing in stating that he personally didn’t care about Junior’s decision? Judge for yourself. The entire twenty minute press conference may be viewed below, and includes Madison Keys, Robby Ginepri and Gail Brodsky.
Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs: OOP Sunday, December 18, 2011
1:00 pm Stadium Court
Women’s Final
(5) Gail Brodsky vs.
(6) Madison Keys
Men’s Final to follow
(2) Jesse Levine vs.
(4) Robby Ginepri
Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs: Semifinal Super Saturday
Sorry 'bout knocking off 2 RCS favorites
With the local women out of the event, it’s up to Robby Ginepri to keep the hometown mesmerized. Alison Riske and Madison Keys kick it off at 1:00 pm today at Racquet Club of the South. Riske didn’t have much competition yesterday while Keys dug down in three grueling sets for her victory. Today, we’ll know if Riske’s game is that good, since Keys will hardly be a walkover. These matches are difficult to predict. The easy way out is Vandeweghe and Keys. So let’s go for broke, take the points and look for Riske and Brodsky in the final.
We’ll also know if yesterday was a fluke for Rhyne Williams and Jesse Levine, who greatly outperformed their quarterfinal competitors. But Denis Kudla advanced the hard way, and in reality, he was not on top form. Jack Sock had beaten him in the previous four matches. Even so, he tenaciously battled Sock in the 2nd set and blew him out in the tiebreak. Kudla knows he is lucky to be in the semifinals of this event, and it would be surprising if he were to let down today.
Georgia's last hope?
As far as Robby Ginepri, you’ve got to love his chances even more. His fitness level is extraordinarily high, and he said yesterday that he knows “the window is closing”. This might be the beginning of the exciting conclusion to his pro playing career.
Against all odds, look for Kudla to advance in three. Not surprisingly, expect Ginepri in straight sets.
Friday’s Quarterfinal Scores
MEN
No. 8 Rhyne Williams (Knoxville, Tenn.) def.No. 1 Bobby Reynolds (Acworth, Ga.), 4-6, 6-4, 10-8
No. 2 Jesse Levine (Boca Raton, Fla.) def. No. 7 Daniel Kosakowski (Downey, Calif.), 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 Denis Kudla (Arlington,Va.) def. No. 6 Jack Sock (Lincoln, Neb.),3-6, 7-6 (4), 5-4, ret.
No. 4 Robby Ginepri (Kennesaw, Ga.) def. No. 5Steve Johnson (Orange, Calif.), 7-6 (4), 6-0
WOMEN
No. 1 Coco Vandeweghe (Newport Beach, Calif.)def. No. 8 Taylor Townsend (Stockbridge, Ga.),6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Gail Brodsky (Brooklyn,N.Y.) def. No. 4 Melanie Oudin (Marietta, Ga.),6-4, 4-6, 6-4
No. 6 MadisonKeys (Boca Raton, Fla.)def. No. 3 Jamie Hampton (Auburn, Ala.), 3-6, 6-4, 9-7
No. 2 Alison Riske (McMurray,Pa.) def. No. 7 Grace Min (Duluth, Ga.),6-0, 6-0
Saturday’s Semifinal schedule
Beginning at 1p.m. on Court 2
Alison Riske vs. Madison Keys
Followed by Denis Kudla vs. Jesse Levine
Beginning at 2p.m. on Stadium Court
Coco Vandeweghe vs. Gail Brodsky
Followed by Robby Ginepri vs. Rhyne Williams
Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs: Day 1 Women’s Recap
Top seeds Coco Vandeweghe and Alison Riske won with relative ease today, while Madison Keys upset world #141 Jamie Hampton and Gail Brodsky knocked out local favorite Melanie Oudin at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Georgia in Australian Open Wild Card Playoff Quarterfinals matches.
She's back!
Keys, who was also the #6 seed en route to winning the US Open Wild Card Playoffs in College Park, Maryland over the summer, struggled in the first before edging Hampton 3-6, 6-4, 9-7. That’s 9 games to 7, as no tiebreak is played and the matches are considered Grand Slam qualifiers. Vandeweghe recorded 5 aces in a row en route to a 6-4, 6-4 win over upstart Taylor Townsend. Brooklyn’s Gail Brodsky outlasted Melanie Oudin 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, finishing Oudin’s mediocre season on a sour note. Second seeded Alison Riske had the easiest match of the day by far in double bageling Grace Min.
Taylor Townsend was gracious in defeat and her attitude will win her support going forward. She claimed that she had not even read the USA Today article about her.
Attendance was impressive, especially for an opening round. The sea of fans was in stark contrast to the College Park event, making one wonder if Atlanta might indeed be America’s tennis town. There were unconfirmed reports that tickets are almost sold out for the remainder of the weekend. With the exit of Oudin, Hampton, Townsend and Min, no women with connections to Georgia or Racquet Club of the South are left in the event. Speaking of Georgia connections, Irina Falconi was everywhere today. She stayed for every match and must have posed for 500 photographs with fans. She took a little time to hit when there was a break in the action. It was a perfect chance to test the slow motion video option on the camera. It’s dark. Not Edgar Allen Poe or Morrissey dark, but it should be more interesting during outdoor court season.
Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs: OOP Saturday, December 17, 2011
Stadium (7) |
Court 2 |
|||
1st Match |
2:00 PMVANDEWEGHE, CoCo (1)vs. BRODSKY, Gail (5) |
1:00 PMRISKE, Alison (2) vs. KEYS, Madison (6) |
|
|
2nd Match |
Not Before 3:00 PMGINEPRI, Robby (4) vs. Williams, Rhyne (8) |
Not Before 2:00 PMKUDLA, Dennis (3) vs. LEVINE, Jesse (2) |
|
Australian Open Wild Card Draw (Norcross, GA December 16-18, 2011)
| 1. Bobby Reynolds (127) | ||||||||
|
|
| | |||||||
| 8. Rhyne Williams (511) | | |
|
| | |||||
|
|
| | | | ||||||
| 4. Robby Ginepri (318) | | |
|
| | |||||
|
|
| | | | | | |||||
| 5. Steve Johnson (369) | | |
|
| | | | ||||
|
|
| | | | ||||||
| 3. Denis Kudla (275) | | |
|
||||||
|
|
| | | | ||||||
| 6. Jack Sock (380) | | |
|
| | | | ||||
|
|
| | | | | | |||||
| 2. Jesse Levine (164) | | |
|
| | |||||
|
|
| | | | ||||||
| 7. Daniel Kosakowski (410) | | |
|
| | |||||
|
|
| | |||||||
| 1. CoCo Vandeweghe (127) | ||||||||
|
|
| | |||||||
| 8. Taylor Townsend (432) | | |
|
| | |||||
|
|
| | | | ||||||
| 4. Melanie Oudin (164) | | |
|
| | |||||
|
|
| | | | | | |||||
| 5. Gail Brodsky (227) | | |
|
| | | | ||||
|
|
| | | | ||||||
| 3. Jamie Hampton (141) | | |
|
||||||
|
|
| | | | ||||||
| 6. Madison Keys (270) | | |
|
| | | | ||||
|
|
| | | | | | |||||
| 2. Alison Riske (135) | | |
|
| | |||||
|
|
| | | | ||||||
| 7. Grace Min (352) | | |
|
| | |||||
|
|
| | |||||||
