Anna Tatishvili Takes ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon Title

MACON, Georgia, (October 13, 2013) After a week of great weather, outstanding support shown by the Macon tennis community and world class women’s tennis, we arrived at “Finals Sunday” at the 2013 ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon presented by the W.L. Amos Foundation held at Stratford Academy’s Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center.

 The best two players all week have been Anna Tatishvili and Ajla Tomljanovic, so Macon tennis fans were treated to a match that could happen in any grand slam tournament around the world.

Let me give away the result saying Tatishvili took the match 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, but both competitors earned the respect of all the spectators.

The points were long and it was high calibre tennis.

Tatishvili got off to a 4-1 start in the first set, but she said it may have been too good of a start.

“Ajla stepped it up in the second set meanwhile I was having a hard time keeping up,” explained the 23-year old from Georgia. The third set was much closer, I was down 1-4, but felt I could’ve been up 4-1.”

Tomljanovic did up the ante in the second set with a blistering array of serves setting up her forehand.

Tomljanovic continued that hot play until 5-3 in the third and that is when Tatishvili started thinking her way around the court and moving Tomljanovic around.

“I never try to quit, “summed up Tatishvili. “Whenever I go on a court, it’s two to three hours of my work.”

Tatishvili took the third set 7-5 and the inaugural ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon.

In the doubles final, the American duo of Emily Harman and Elizabeth Lumpkin won a first set filled with service breaks 6-3 and got up 5-3 in the second before former University of Mississippi players Kristi

Boxx and Abigail Guthrie caught fire.

Boxx and Guthrie took the second set in a tiebreaker and then went on to close out the match in the Match Tiebreak 10-4 to claim the 25K title.

After the match, Boxx said she had predicted a three-set win all along.

“I woke up this morning and talked to my mom and said don’t do what Ole Miss did (in football) last night.  Take care of business. I texted her back and said we are going to win this one in three sets.”

 Which they did.

 Great weather and great fan support for professional women’s tennis in Macon all week.

Tatishvili, Tomljanovic into ButlerCars.com Tennis Finals

ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon

Presented By The W.L. Amos Foundation

STRATFORD ACADEMY - JAIME KAPLAN TENNIS CENTER * OCTOBER 6-13, 2013

Tatishvili, Tomljanovic Reach ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon Finals

MACON, Georgia, (October 12, 2013) Saturday is usually a day reserved for college football in the South, but don’t tell that to the tennis fans of Macon, Georgia.

Saturday means the semifinals at the ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon held at the Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center at Stratford Academy.

It also meant a time for the favorites to step up their game and shine.

Saturday’s first semifinal featured former top-50 pro Anna Tatishvili of the Republic of Georgia and Ulrikke Eikeri, the No. 1 player from Norway.

Tatishvili jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead over Eikeri, but she said it was no time to relax.

“Obviously you try to win every game, but a fast start sure helps.”

Eikeri fought back to even the first set at 4-4, but Tatishvili broke and then held to get the one set advantage.

When a reporter said this may have been her best match of the tournament so far, Tatishvili agreed.

“I played pretty solid today, I was in good position for my shots.”

The second set was more of the same with Tatishvili staying ahead the entire way to close out the win.

Tatishvili broke Eikeri six times during the match.

There wasn’t much suspense in the second semifinal as top seeded and world No. 86 Ajla Tomljanovic took the first four games of the match with a dominating array of serves and forehands keeping her opponent, Madison Brengle off balance, looking for answers, and questioning line calls.

It’s possibly the first match all week where Tomljanovic, who didn’t face any break points, was pleased with her play.
“Today, not much to complain about, I played as well as I could and didn’t make any mistakes, but credit to her, she fought to the end,” explained the 5’11” righty from Zagreb, Croatia.

The 6-2, 6-1 match only lasted 61 minutes, but Tomljanovic said that was a good thing.

“It was kind of tough, she’s (Brengle) the type of player that doesn’t give you much time in between points. so my heart rate was always up.”

Tomljanovic and Tatishvili have played once before with Tomljanovic taking a three set win in 2009 at the USTA Pro Circuit event in Albuquerque.

The action on Sunday begins at 1 pm with the doubles final and the singles final will follow.

Saturday’s Results (Winners Listed First)

Anna TATISHVILI (GEO) [4]Ulrikke EIKERI (NOR) WS6-4 6-3
Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (CRO) [1]Madison BRENGLE (USA) [3] WS6-1 6-2

Semifinals are Set at ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon

ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon

Presented By The W.L. Amos Foundation

STRATFORD ACADEMY - JAIME KAPLAN TENNIS CENTER * OCTOBER 6-13, 2013

SEMIFINALS SET FOR SATURDAY AT BUTLERCARS.COM TENNIS CLASSIC

MACON, Georgia, (October 11, 2013) Ask ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic tournament director Eric Hayes what his favorite day of tournament week is, and you will hear him say, “they all a great, but Friday, when all the quarterfinals are played is special.”

“For many of the players, Friday is the day that determines whether they had a successful week or not,” offers up Hayes. “If they win, in many cases, they earn enough points to significantly boost their ranking.”

Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri is looking to boost her ranking back up to where it was before she injured her ankle back in February.  Eikeri was approaching the No. 250 mark in the world rankings when she sustained an injury.

Now, she has put three great matches together in Macon and feels good about her game.

Playing almost flawless tennis, Eikeri took down American and seventh seed Allie Kiick in a little over an hour.

“The first set was perfect,” Eikeri said of the 6-0, 6-3 victory. “I wasn’t making any errors and everything was perfect in that first set.”

Eikeri was happy with the quick victory, that will allow her to spend the rest of Friday resting and recovering.

Eikeri said her confidence has risen since her first round upset over second seeded Michelle Larcher De Brito.

“It has helped my confidence, beating a player like that- it makes me feel like I can beat anyone.”

Eikeri will next face Anna Tatishvili of Georgia, not the state of Georgia, but the Republic of Georgia. Tatishvili, a former world No. 50 took out two-time NCAA singles champ Nicole Gibbs 6-1, 6-3 in a match where Gibbs frequently chided herself for unforced errors.

Tatishvili noticed her opponent Gibbs, get visibly frustrated, but she didn’t let it affect her game.

“I just try to focus on myself and I think it was because her serve was a little off today,” stated the 23-year old from Tbilisli, Georgia.

In the other semifinals, tournament top seed Ajla Tomljanovic jumped on American Julia Boserup quickly, winning the first set 6-2, but she had to hold on in the second, taking it 7-5.

“It was 6-2, 5-2, playing very solidly,” explained Tomljanovic.  “But I have to give credit to her, she really stepped it up and made it more difficult for me to miss some shots I shouldn’t have- but that’s tennis.”

Tomljanovic will face American Madison Brengle in her semifinal match.  Brengle defeated fellow American Jacqueline Cako of Seattle, Washington.

In doubles semifinals action, Emily Harman and Elizabeth Lumpkin defeated Lauren Embree and Allie Kiick and the other doubles semi went three sets with the team of Kristi Boxx and Abigail Guthrie defeating Boserup and Samantha Crawford.

The two singles semifinals will take place on Saturday starting at 11 am.

Thursday’s Results (Winners Listed First)

Starting at 10:00Ulrikke EIKERI (NOR)Allie KIICK (USA) [7] WS6-0 6-3

Starting at 10:00Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (CRO) [1]Julia BOSERUP (USA) WS6-2 7-5

Followed byAnna TATISHVILI (GEO) [4]Nicole GIBBS (USA) [6] WS6-1 6-3

Followed byMadison BRENGLE (USA) [3]Jacqueline CAKO (USA) WS6-2 6-1

Followed byEmily J. HARMAN (USA) / Elizabeth LUMPKIN (USA)Lauren EMBREE (USA) / Allie KIICK (USA) WD7-5 6-4

Followed byKristi BOXX (USA) / Abigail GUTHRIE (NZL)Julia BOSERUP (USA) / Samantha CRAWFORD (USA) WD5-7 7-6(5) [13-11]

ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic Featured on WMAZ in Macon

Suzanne Lawler did a great job with this piece on Allie Kiick and why the ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon is so important.

Americans Find Success on Wednesday at ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic

MACON, Georgia, (October 9, 2013) More beautiful weather for the continuation of the first round of the main draw on Wednesday, and that played right into the hands of the American players at the ButlerCars.com Tennis Classic of Macon held at the Jaime Kaplan Tennis Center at Stratford Academy.

Wildcard entry and former University of Alabama player Alexa Guarachi took on China’s Di Zhao to start Wednesday’s action. Guarachi, who because of injury issues, doesn’t even currently hold a world ranking started a bit tentatively, but caught fire at the end of the first set edged the world No. 515 6-4, 7-5 in front of a group of family and friends.

“I kind of had a slow start, but thought I played well,” said Guarachi following her win. “My serve helped and it helps me set up what I want to do with the next ball.”

Guarachi next takes on another former college player in former Arizona State Sun Devil Jacqueline Cako. Even after both played four year in college, they have never played each other.

“I’m excited,” stated Guarachi. “I know her game a little and I’ve had some friends that have played her, so I can talk to them.

Another player that did some talking was former University of Florida player Allie Will.

Will fell behind Emma Hayman of New Zealand early and dropped the first set. Will then proceeded to give herself frequent short pep talks as she eeked out a tiebreaker to take the second set to force a decisive third.

The talks appeared to work as Will went on to win the third set and advance.

Also advancing was former USC player and qualifying draw survivor Danielle Lao of Arcadia, California.  Lao came to Macon with no world ranking, but a relaxed attitude and she says that is paying off.

Lao won a battle with fellow American Chiara Scholl 6-4, 6-4 and is content to take it one match at a time.

“I think I decided to play these tournaments a few weeks ago- it was either or going to be great or be a disaster, but so far so good,” offered up Lao.

Lao said she relies on her own instincts when preparing for a match and doesn’t worry about what the stats or percentages say.

"I usually don't check the numbers and stats, but I try to play my game and go out there and access what I need to do.  The numbers don't necessarily lie, but they can be deceiving."

Lao next will face top seeded Adja Tomljanovic.

The tournament’s third seed Madison Brengle cruised through her first round match with a straight set win over Tereza Martincova. Brengle will next face Natalie Pluskota of Sharpsburg, Georgia.

Wednesday’s Results (Winners Listed First)

Starting at 10:00Alexa GUARACHI (USA)Di ZHAO (CHN) WS7-5 6-4

Starting at 10:00Allie WILL (USA)Emma HAYMAN (NZL) WS1-6 7-5 6-3

Starting at 10:00Mari OSAKA (JPN)Asia MUHAMMAD (USA) WS4-6 6-3 6-3

Starting at 10:00Nicole GIBBS (USA) [6]Elizabeth LUMPKIN (USA) WS6-1 6-0

Followed byDanielle LAO (USA)Chiara SCHOLL (USA) WS6-4 6-4

Followed byAlexandra STEVENSON (USA)Caitlin WHORISKEY (USA) WS6-3 1-6 6-4

Followed byPiia SUOMALAINEN (FIN)Samantha CRAWFORD (USA) WS6-4 6-0

Followed byNatalie PLUSKOTA (USA)Angelica MORATELLI (ITA) WS7-6(3) 6-1

Followed byMadison BRENGLE (USA) [3]Tereza MARTINCOVA (CZE) WS6-2 6-4

Followed byRosalia ALDA (USA) / Epiphany B. TURNER (USA)Emma HAYMAN (NZL) / Michelle SAMMONS (RSA) WD6-3 2-6 [13-11]

Followed byKristi BOXX (USA) / Abigail GUTHRIE (NZL)Khristina BLAJKEVITCH (CAN) / Petra JANUSKOVA (CAN) WD6-1 2-6 [10-4]

Followed byAsia MUHAMMAD (USA) / Allie WILL (USA) [1]Nicole GIBBS (USA) / Alexa GUARACHI (USA) WD3-6 6-3 [10-6]

Followed byJennifer ELIE (USA) / Kady POOLER (USA)Ulrikke EIKERI (NOR) / Beatriz HADDAD MAIA (BRA) [4] WD2-0 Ret.

Followed byJulia BOSERUP (USA) / Samantha CRAWFORD (USA)Sanaz MARAND (USA) [3] / Keri WONG (USA) WD6-3 6-3