The $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit Event at the Oaks Club Continues Through Sunday
Osprey, FL, March 30 – No. 5 seed Edina Gallovits-Hall of Romania took to stadium court during quarterfinal play at The Oaks Club today and left the court victorious after three sets, defeating No. 1 seed Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic.
Gallovits-Hall, a playing professional for more than 10 years, has competed in all four Grand Slams. “She was hitting big shots and I had to move very well,” Gallovits-Hall said post-match. Gallovits-Hall has won 12 USTA Pro Circuit singles titles entering 2012, which is second-all time to Kristina Brandi’s 13. Asked what it was like to defeat the No. 1 seed, Gallovits-Hall said, “It happens, its women’s tennis.”
In other play, Arantxa Rus, 21, of the Netherlands currently ranked No. 105, defeated Argentina’s Florencia Molinero, 6-2, 6-2. Rus looked comfortable on clay and told reporters it was her favorite surface. Rus is a former world No. 1 junior player, who won the 2008 junior Australian Open. She also reached the third round of the 2011 French Open, where she defeated No. 2 seed Kim Clijsters in the second round in three sets.
Alexandra Panova, the No. 3 seed from Russia, changed her game to defeat Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino in three sets 3-6, 7-5, 6-0. The two players faced each other earlier this year in Colombia, South America, where Arruabarrena-Vecino’s comfort on clay found Rus on the losing end. During today’s first set, Rus explained she had to give up her game. “I had to get out of my comfort zone, play slower, play shorter and I did some drop shots and played to the net and stay on her at every point, playing straight to her forehand,” Rus said. “That’s why I am happy, I did something to change.”
In tomorrow’s semifinal play Rus will face Gallovits-Hall in the first match that begins at 11 am. Then, Alexandra Panova and Sesil Karatantcheva will play for a final spot.
Quarterfinals Singles Results:
Arantxa Rus, Netherlands def. Florencia Molinero, Argentina, 6-2, 6-2
Alexandra Panova [3], Russia Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino, Spain, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0
Sesil Karatantcheva, Kazakhstan, def. Alize Cornet, France, 7-6, [3], 6-3
Edina Gallovits-Hall [5], Romania, def. Lucie Hradecka [1] Czech Republic 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Results:
Lindsay Lee-Waters, United States/Megan Moulton-Levy, United States def. Sharon Fichman, Canada/ Marie-Eve Pelletier, Canada 6-1, 1-6, 10-7
Alexandra Panova, Russia/Lesia Tsurenko, Ukraine, def. [2] Nina Bratchikova, Russia/Darija Jurak, Croatia, 6-3, 6-4
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
