DAILEY WINS MAIN DRAW SPOT FOR THE 2012
$50,000 WOMEN’S USTA PRO CIRCUIT EVENT AT THE OAKS CLUB
March 25-April 1, 2012
OSPREY, March 11 – The USTA today announced that Caroline Dailey of Sarasota, Fla., has been awarded a wild card entry into the 2012 Women’s USTA Pro Circuit Event. This $50,000 event will take place March 25-April 1, 2012, at The Oaks Club. Runner-up, Wendy Zhang, will get a spot in the qualifier.
Dailey, 17, a junior at the Out-of-Door Academy in Lakewood Ranch, won Sunday’s wild card match 6-2, 6-1, over 16 year-old Zhang who lives in Bradenton and trains at United Tennis Academy. Dailey was anxious at first, hitting errant shots, but soon found her rhythm.
“I knew what I had to do, she was hitting a lot of shots to the back,” said Dailey. “It was good for me to be able to finish the ball after three or four shots and playing good defense.”
Today’s win puts the high school junior into the main draw and Dailey knows what’s coming as a second-time wild card champion. “It is definitely good playing practice, and I’m really excited about it,” she said.
The Oaks Club Director of Tennis, Tom Whitten, organized the wild card event as a prelude to this month’s main draw tournament that will host players from around the world.
“Caroline was more consistent with bigger shots and she had more weapons for her opponent today,” Whitten remarked.
Dailey’s coach, Mike Wilson, Director of Junior Development at Lakewood Ranch Tennis Center, says Caroline needs to work on closing the match when she’s leading. “I want her to stay mentally focused within the match, and let it come to her.” he said.
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
Cel: 941-961-3708
E-mail: moore.pr@gmail.com
