Osprey, FL, March 31 — Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands wore a bright orange outfit, the color of her country, on stadium court today at The Oaks Club. The semi-final match had the tall, Nordic player taking the first five games in searing fashion, only to have the match go in a different, slower rhythm as her opponent, No. 5 seed Edina Gallovits-Hall, began to take command.
“I started out playing very well, I played strong, and then at 5-0, she became better in the match.” Rus played to Gallovits-Hall’s backhand and “the second set was very close and very long,” Rus stated. During the second set, Gallovits-Hall was offering up a variety of shots and leading 4-2, while Rus climbed back after errors, and Gallovits-Hall serving faults. Rus defeated Edina Gallovits-Hall in two sets, 6-4, 6-4 winning herself a final berth in tomorrow’s final, a first final slot for Rus this year.
Alexandra Panova and Sesil Karatantcheva were teamed up next, where the first two games traded service breaks, then each player held serve. Panova’s drop shots won points throughout, but Karantantcheva held on, powering shots to the back corners over and over again.
“My tactic was to play to her backhand,” Karantantcheva said. “And clay is a different game.”
Karantantcheva thought it was a good match, but her serve was not there. “If I manage to get my game higher, the ranking will come,” she said. Karantantcheva told reporters she had not been ranked in the top 100 since 2008 and the closest she got was 112. Sesil Karatantcheva defeated Russia’s Alexandra Panova[3] 7-6 (6), 6-3.
The $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit Event will hold the Doubles Final match first and play begins tomorrow at noon, putting Panova back on the court after losing in the singles semi-final. Panova and Leisa Tsurenko will face Americans, Megan Moulton-Levy, and Lindsay Lee-Waters. The singles final match will be played directly after the doubles match.
Tickets are $20.00 at the gate and the event is open to the public.
Results:
Arantxa Rus, Netherlands, def. Edina Gallovits-Hall,[5] Romania, 6-4, 6-4
Sesil Karatantcheva, Kazakhstan, def. Alexandra Panova, 7-6(6), 6-3
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
Cell: 941-961-3708
