OSPREY, FL – March 28 – American Irina Falconi, the No. 6 seed, was put to the test by fellow American and 2011 US Open girls’ champion Grace Min during first round play today at the $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit Event at the Oaks Club. Min, who climbed through qualifying to the first round, put Falconi through three sets in hard-fought match. In the end, Falconi defeated Min 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
“I thought Grace played incredibly well. The last time we played was at the French Open and she’s improved so much,” Falconi said. The variety of shots by both players had the crowd entranced and Falconi agreed. “Grace loved those drop shots. I pulled about 35 muscles because of those shots,” Falconi remarked.
Oaks Club Director of Tennis, Tom Whitten saw the depth of each girls talent today. “Irina dug deep today and she didn’t win pretty, but did what it took and showed the grit she’s been playing with for the last few years,” Whitten said.
Falconi faces Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands tomorrow.
In other first round play, Alize Cornet, 22, of Nice, France, defeated American and 2011 US Open Mixed Doubles champion Melanie Oudin, 7-5, 6-2. Cornet comes to the Oaks Tournament for the first time after playing seven other tournaments in a row. Cornet was 5-0 in the second set when Oudin started to come back. “She was being creative with her shots,” Cornet said. When asked if she knew that a French player won the tournament last year, Cornet replied that she knew Claire De Gubernatis had won it. In fact, they are good friends. “Claire has been out for several months with a low back injury, ” Cornet said. “Claire told me about the tournament and now I will tell everyone I know how nice it is here.”
Cornet peaked at No. 11 in the world in February 2009 after reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open. She represented France in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and has played for the French Fed Cup team since 2008.
Local favorite and wild card winner Caroline Dailey faced CoCo Vandeweghe and lost 6-1, 6-2, amid much support for the 17-year-old high school junior from Lakewood Ranch. “I struggled with the big points and I was really nervous,” Dailey said. “I am right there level-wise, it’s going to come with time and patience,” Dailey lamented.
Vandeweghe knew she was facing a local girl, but felt her qualifying matches helped set the tone of play. “My experience outweighed the crowd,” Vandeweghe said. “Winning three previous qualifying matches helped.” Vandeweghe will play No. 3 seed Alexandra Panova of Russia, who is ranked No. 83, tomorrow.
Main Draw singles and doubles play continues tomorrow.
Today’s Results:
SINGLES
Alize Cornet, France, def. Melanie Oudin, United States, 7-5, 6-2
JessicaPegula, United States, def. Alla Kudryavtseva, Russia, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5)
Karolina Pliskova, Czech Republic, def. Jana Cepelova, Slovakia, 3-3 Ret.
Eugenie Bouchard, Canada, def. Laura Robson, Great Britain, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4
CoCo Vandeweghe, United States, def. Caroline Dailey, United States, 6-1, 6-2
Irina Falconi [6], United States, def. Grace Min, United States, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Florencia Molinero, Argentina, def. Mandy Minella, Luxembourg[4], 7-6 (3), 6-2
Valeria Savinkh, Russia, def. Nina Bratchikova, Russia[7], 6-4, 3-6, 6-0
Sesil Karatantcheva, Kazakhstan, def. Anastasia Yakimova[2], Belarus, 6-1, 6-3
Kristina Mladenovic, France, def. Alexandra Panova[3], Russia, 6-4, 6-2
DOUBLES
Lindsay Lee-Waters, United States/Megan Moulton-Levy, United States def. Natalie Grandin, Republic of South Africa/Vladmira Uhlirova, Czech Republic[1] 6-2, 7-5
Julia Cohen, United States/Florencia Molinero, Argentina def. Lauren Burich, United States/Tristen Z. Dewar, United States, 6-1, 6-0
These matches are still in progress:
Yasmin Schnack, United States/Chi Chi Scholl, United States vs. Nina Bratchikova[2], Russia/Darija Jurak, Croatia
Irina Falconi, United States/CoCo Vandeweghe, United States vs Maria-Fernanda Alves, Brazil/Alexandra Mueller, United States
Now in its fourth year as tournament host, The Oaks Club is recognized as one of the most active tennis facilities in the area, featuring twelve, state-of-the-art, HAR-TRU® tennis courts, including four lighted courts, recently renovated with the HydroGrid irrigation system and maintained to tournament standards. For more info: www.theoaksclub.com
ABOUT THE USTA PRO CIRCUIT:
With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 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 33 years ago 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. Mardy Fish, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, Caroline Wozniacki, James Blake, Li Na and Andy Murray are among today’s top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.
For more information, contact:
Allison Moore, Tournament Press Aide
E-mail: moore.pr@gmail.com
Cel: 941-961-3708
