Osprey, FL, April 1 — Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands and her big ground stokes propelled her to victory today during the Singles Finals match at The Oaks Club. The 21 year-old remained steady and dug deep to pull out a tough match against Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-1.
Both players broke each other’s serve throughout the first set and Karatantcheva double faulted on set point. Rus quickly capitalized on Sesil’s weaker serve and kept her ground game strong.
“I played some good tennis today,” Rus quickly remarked post-match while signing autographs. “During the second match, I played more aggressively, playing heavy balls in the clay,” she said. Rus heads to Charleston and the Family Circle Cup before going to Europe to hopefully compete in The French Open. Her manager, Marijn Bal, told reporters, “This win will propel her to back to the top 100 and with the French coming up this win will help get her in the main draw.”
The Oaks Club Director of Tennis, Tom Whitten, reported more than 3,000 spectators enjoyed the week of tennis and the positive response has been voiced by the players, sponsors and officials. “The backdrop of this beautiful community makes it a special experience,” Whitten said.
In Doubles Finals action, Americans, Lindsay Lee-Waters and Megan Moulton-Levy defeated Alexandra Panova of Russian and Leisa Tsurenko, 2-6, 6-4, (7) in a lively match that had the crowd wowed. Lee-Waters, 34, and a mother of two, was happy to win her first title of the year with her playing partner of only two years. “In the first set we lost 4 deuce points,” Lee-Waters said. “We are playing more USTA events and getting ready to make it to the French Open.”
The American doubles pair have a combined ranking of 216 and met two years ago through Facebook, having never before played with one another. Moulton-Levy, The All-American from William and Mary College in Virginia, delighted the crowd with intense shots that defied gravity returning the lobs of Panova and Tsurenko. Moulton-Levy called the slam shots something she does when she is in her “King Kong” mode.
Getting to the final doubles match today was no easy task. The first team the Americans played was No. 1 seed Natalie Grandin of Russia and Vladimira Uhilrova of the Czech Republic with a combined ranking of 53. Moulton-Levy said it was great preparation for the week ahead.
“We tend to draw a crowd, but it’s been exceptional here this year,” Moulton-Levy told reporters. “This place is so great. The people are so warm and welcoming,” she said.
Results:
Singles Championship Match:
Arantxa Rus, Netherlands, def. Sesil Karatantcheva, Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-1
Doubles Championship Match
Lindsay Lee-Waters, United States/Megan Moulton-Levy, United States, def. Alexandra Panova, Russia/Lesia Tsurenko, Ukraine, 2-6, 6-4, (7)
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
