Oct 17, 2023
2023 Mercer Tennis Classic:
Main Draw Singles and Doubles Starts
University of Georgia’s Alexandra Vecic To Main Draw, Plays Wednesday
MERCER UNIVERSITY - John Drew Smith Tennis Center - OCT 16 - OCT 22, 2023
USTA Pro Circuit 80K Event
MACON, Georgia, (October 17, 2023) The main draws started in Macon this week at the Mercer Tennis Classic held Oct. 16-22 at the John Drew Smith Tennis Center in Macon.
Players from more than 20 countries are competing for $80,000 and valuable ranking points.
The draw is headed by Atlanta-resident Taylor Townsend, who is currently ranked No. 77 in singles and No. 8 in the world in doubles coming off a quarterfinal result at the US Open and reaching the finals of the 2023 French Open. She will be in action on Wednesday afternoon.
Tuesday night showcased the first night match of the week with No. 3 seed, Katie Volynets taking on a lucky loser in Anna Rogers. Rogers was a late sub for Allie Kiick and even though she had played a match earlier in the day, she came out swinging. Serve holds were the rule until 5-5 when Volynets started picking up her return of serve. A break gave her a quick lead, but Rogers wasn’t done yet. First set was decided in a tiebreaker with the No. 3 seed Volynets taking the set.
Similar pattern in the second set. With no breaks until Volynets came through at the end with some spectacular passing shots to take the second 6-3.
University of Georgia player, Alexandra Vecic earned a spot in the main draw with a three set victory over Chelsea Fontenel of Switzerland. Vecic is from Germany and is quicking rising the WTA rankings, now up to No. 405 in the world. The 21 year-old recently reached the semifinals at ITF events in Spain and Switzerland. Vecic will play the second match on Court 9 on Wednesday.
Former Georgia Tech standout Rasheeda McAdoo earned another hard fought three-set victory in the final qualifying round over American, Whitney Osiguwe.
Results:
Rasheeda MCADOO (USA) [16] Whitney OSUIGWE (USA) [4] 1-6 6-4 7-5
Alexandra VECIC (GER) [5] Chelsea FONTENEL (SUI) 3-6 6-1 6-2
Akasha URHOBO (USA) Anna ROGERS (USA) [14] 7-5 6-7(8) 6-2
Gabriela LEE (ROU) [7] Fangran TIAN (CHN) [10] 6-0 6-0
Victoria OSUIGWE (USA) Jenna DEFALCO (USA) [8] 0-6 6-3 6-2
Alana SMITH (USA) [9] Salma EWING (USA) 6-3 6-3
Ashley LAHEY (USA) [1] Chloe BECK (USA) [11] 6-3 6-1
Victoria HU (USA) [3] Sofia SEWING (USA) [12] 3-6 7-6(7) 2-1 Ret.
Maria MATEAS (USA) Elvina KALIEVA (USA) 6-3 7-5
Mccartney KESSLER (USA) Catherine HARRISON (USA) 6-1 7-5
Alexa NOEL (USA) Jana KOLODYNSKA 6-4 3-1 Ret.
Raluca Georgiana SERBAN (CYP) / Renata ZARAZUA Makenna JONES (USA) [3] / Yuliia STARODUBTSEVA (UKR) 6-4 2-6 [10-8]
Melany Solange KRYWOJ (ARG) / Julia RIERA (ARG) Chloe BECK (USA) / Ava MARKHAM (USA) 6-3 7-5
Hailey BAPTISTE (USA) [5] Louisa CHIRICO (USA) 6-0 6-2
Akasha URHOBO (USA) / Mia YAMAKITA (USA) Rasheeda MCADOO (USA) / Marine PARTAUD (FRA) 6-1 6-2
Sofia SEWING (USA) [2] / Anastasia TIKHONOVA Lia KARATANCHEVA (BUL) / Maria KONONOVA 6-2 6-1
Katie VOLYNETS (USA) [3] Anna ROGERS (USA) 7-6(3) 6-3
On and off the court activities: Monday’s included the Volunteer’s Clinic which featured the pros hitting with and giving tips to sponsors and volunteers. High School Day, where high school kids came out all morning to watch the action.
Notes:
One former Macon champion in the main draw field - Kayla Day (2016)
Again for 2023 are three evenings of night matches during the week.
10th Anniversary. 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 - 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 USTA.com and the Tennis Channel.
Tickets are available at www.ustamaconclassic.com
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 on USTA.com
Tournament volunteers are needed and any help is always appreciated. Call Mercer tennis coach and tournament director Eric Hayes at (478) 301-2269.