Oct 16, 2022
2022 Mercer Tennis Classic: One on One Doubles Event and Qualifying
MERCER UNIVERSITY - John Drew Smith Tennis Center - OCT 17 - OCT 23, 2022
USTA Pro Circuit 60K Event
MACON, Georgia, (October 16, 2022) Professional women’s tennis is in Macon this week with the Mercer Tennis Classic held Oct. 17-23 at the John Drew Smith Tennis Center off I-75 in Macon.
There also was a special one day, lead in event on Sunday, with the One-On-One Doubles Shootout.
Perfect Macon weather greeted the players on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 16, for the special One-On-One Doubles Shootout. Most of the players didn’t know what they were getting into, but all appeared ready to try some “One-On-One Doubles.”
See Mercer Tennis Classic players play in this Shootout where $5000 in prize money will be doled out for this one day, unique and innovative scoring event.
Some Mercer University players even took part in the special event.
Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska outlasted Alana Smith, a college player from NC State 4-1 in the final match, earning the trophy and a nice check to start the week.
The play was stellar and local media from Macon and the Southeast were present to document the historic nature of this tournament within a tournament.
One-On-One Doubles Tennis is the crosscourt serve-and-volley Singles game including the doubles alley. Players are required to serve-and-volley on both serves or there is a loss of point; Half volleys are allowed. All players are awarded TWO POINTS for winning volleys and overheads — hit in the air — that the opponent cannot touch or reach.
The 2022 singles qualifying draw has been released.
“It’s an elite field in singles and doubles,” stated Tournament Director and Mercer Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach, Eric Hayes. “The players are here practicing and getting ready for the main draw on Tuesday.”
More than 30 players who have competed in the Macon event have gone on to compete for Grand Slams in 2022.
With a ranking of No. 48, defending champion, Madison Brengle is the highest ranked player to play in the Mercer Tennis Classic.
The women’s event will feature a 32-player singles qualifying draw, a 32-player singles main draw and a 16-team doubles draw with a field made up of WTA professional players as well as up-and-coming juniors.
Player field notes:
Two former Macon champions in the field - Brengle (Defending champ 2021), Peterson (2015)
Brengle has been ranked as high as No. 35 in the world
Emma Navarro, from Charleston SC, is up to a career high ranking of 127
Most of these players played either the main draw or qualifying of the 2022 US Open
The 2002 singles qualifying draw features 21 Americans that will try and win two matches to reach the main draw.
Two Mercer student-athletes, Naya Tillet and Teodora Ristic are entered into the qualifying draw.
Matches begin at 10am on Monday and continue throughout the day.
New for 2022 are three evenings of night matches during the week. (Please check the order of play each day for specific matches and times.)
Tuesday October 18 - Macon Night, High Performance Clinic
Wednesday October 19 - Honoring Randy Stephens Tennis Center for USTA Facility Award
Thursday October 20 - Mercer University Night
Now in its tenth year, the Mercer Tennis Classic will once again feature many of the best women tennis players in the world. It is the second biggest professional tournament in the state of Georgia in terms of prize money (ATP World Tour 250 event - Truist Atlanta Open in July, is the largest). It is also the longest running professional women’s tennis tournament in the state of Georgia. The event has been showcased on the Tennis Channel.
Tickets will be available onsite and online this year. $5 per day and $20 for the entire week.
The Mercer Tennis Classic has featured players with major titles, including 2014 Macon singles champ, Kateryna Bondarenko, of Ukraine, and her sister, Alona, who she teamed with to win the 2008 Australian Open Doubles title, and 2010 French Open singles champion Francesca Schiavone, of Italy, who was the tournament’s top seed in 2018.
Live streaming and radio information to be released soon.
Tournament volunteers are needed and any help is always appreciated. Call Mercer tennis coach and tournament director Eric Hayes at (478) 301-2269.
About the John Drew Smith Tennis Center
The John Drew Smith Tennis Center (JDSTC) is regarded as one of the top 25 public municipal facilities in the nation by Tennis Magazine and the United States Tennis Association. It has 24 tennis courts, 6 pickleball courts, a beautiful observation deck and pro shop. The facility is a haven for programming for juniors, adults, and everyone in the community. John Drew Smith Tennis Center is renowned for hosting local, state, and national tennis events. Tennis players not only from the state of Georgia but all over the country, are familiar with JDS. Almost every competitive junior player from the state of Georgia in the last 30 years has played at this renowned facility. The activity is so extensive and the atmosphere is so conducive to tennis that, in 2005, Racquet Sports Industry (RSI) named John Drew Smith Tennis Center the Municipal Facility of the Year.
About the USTA Pro Circuit
With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $15,000 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 in 1979 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. Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard, John Isner, Madison Keys, Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, Sam Querrey and Caroline Wozniacki are among today's top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit