Ann Li – Evansville Tennis Center

Ann Li Wins First Pro Title

Ryan McDaniel — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 22:49:39 +0000

Sunday afternoon Ann Li (Devon,PA) captured her first professional title. Li was the 2017 Wimbledon junior finalist. She lost to fellow American Claire Liu in the second-ever all-American girls final at Wimbledon, dating back to 1947. Li was given a wild card by the USTA to play in this years Women’s Hospital Classic. She drew a tough first round opponent in Alexa Graham. Graham, a standout North Carolina Tar Heel came off a terrific season with the team finishing ranked top 5 among all NCAA Division I teams. Li defeated Graham 6-3, 7-5. Li’s next round opponent was fellow teenage American stand out, Whitney Osuigwe. Osuigwe won the Rolland Garros junior title in 2017. Li went on to win 7-6, 6-1. Caty McNally became Li’s quarterfinal opponent after beating Madeleine Kobelt 6-3, 6-0. After defeating McNally 6-1, 6-3, Li beat Lorraine Guillermo in the semi finals 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Her final opponent entered the week with 25 combined Pro Circuit titles but the teenager lived up to the hype beating Marcela Zacarias in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Congratulations to Ann Li on her first title. For more information on this years Women’s Hospital Classic please visit the tournament website.

Guillermo In Singles Semifinal and Doubles Final

Ryan McDaniel — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 20:59:02 +0000

The summer of success continues for Ann Li as she reaches a career best semi-final appearance at a Pro Circuit tournament. Li is back in the states, after competing in Wimbledon. The seventeen year old from Pennsylvania, not only made the finals of Wimbledon this month, but has matched her career high world ranking of 14. Li found herself in a familiar place today as she played another young American who is traveling with her as part of the USTA Player Development team. Li beat Caty McNally 6-1, 6-3 to reach this years semi-finals where she will play Lorraine Guillermo.

Guillermo, who beat Alexandra Morozova in the second round, played another seeded player. Today, it was Caitlin Whoriskey, the top ranked and seeded player in the tournament. Guillermo once again came out victorious, downing Whoriskey 6-3, 6-0. Guillermo was a two-time All-American at Pepperdine University where she also won the ITA / Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship award. Guillermo and Li are set to play tomorrow at 10:30am.

Defending champion, and crowd favorite Kennedy Shaffer battled for three sets today against Allie Kiick. Kiick, who is playing in her fourth tournament since July 2015 took the first set 6-4. Shaffer fought back to push it to a third set, but it was Kiick who ultimately won with a final score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Kiick’s win sets her up with a semifinal matchup against the Marcela Zacarias.

Zacarias is the highest seed remaining in the draw. Zacarias is from San Luis Potosi, Mexico and has won a total of 11 career Pro Circuit singles titles. She has also 14 career Pro Circuit doubles titles. Zacarias reached a career high WTA ranking of 181 in 2015.
The Women’s Hospital Classic Doubles Finals will be played after both semi-final singles matches. Winthrop teammates, Lauren Proctor and Alice Garcia beat the second seeded pairing of Cameron Morra and Salome Devidze 5-7, 6-1, 10-7. Lauren Proctor will be entering her junior year, while Garcia finished her Winthrop career last year after being named All-Conference.
Proctor and Garcia will play Lorraine Guillermo and Madeleine Kobelt. Guillermo has one career Pro Circuit doubles title, winning in Victoria, British Columbia in 2016. Kobelt will be playing in her first doubles finals in Evansville. Kobelt reached the semi-finals in 2013.

Saturday morning the Evansville Community Tennis Association with the help of local coaches will be hosting Family Day. Family day is open to anyone. Coaches will provide free instruction, games, and prizes for participants. Immediately following Family Day, the semi finals will begin.

Schedule of Play: 10:30am start time
Lorraine Guillermo vs Ann Li
Allie Kiick vs Marcela Zacarias
Alice Garcia / Lauren Proctor vs Lorraine Guillermo / Madeleine Kobelt

Seeds Go the Distance

Ryan McDaniel — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 00:41:00 +0000

Lorraine Guillermo

Play continued Thursday, with the tournament moving indoors. The round of 16 brought many anticipated match ups and they did not disappoint. Five seeds remained as the day began, and four will move on. Top seeded Caitlin Whoriskey was tested early and often by the 17-year-old Ellie Douglas. Caitlin and Ellie split the first two sets 6-3. But Whoriskey ultimately pulled ahead with a break of serve in the third set. She would go on to win the final set 6-3. Whoriskey will play qualifier Lorraine Guillermo Friday. Guillermo took down sixth seeded Alexandra Morozova. After dropping a close first set (6-4), Guillermo responded by taking the second and third sets 6-1, and 6-2 respectively.

Caty McNally, who has won five straight matches – including qualifying, beat Syracuse alumna Madeleine Kobelt in straight sets. McNally will play fellow American Ann Li. In a very anticipated matchup of Grand Slam finalists, Li ousted Whitney Osuigwe. The first set between the two teenagers came down to just a few points. The first set ended in a tiebreak, 7-4, favoring Li. Li took the tiebreak momentum into the second set and never looked back, winning 6-1 in the following set.

Kennedy Shaffer needed three sets to beat qualifier Abigail Desiatnikov 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. The defending Women’s Hospital Classic champion will face fifth seeded Allie Kiick in the quarterfinals.

Marcela Zacarias

The remaining quarterfinals matchup will feature two fellow country woman (Mexico), Sebastiani Leon and Marcela Zacarias. Zacarias played Sara Daavettila in the round of 16. Daavettila had previously earned two consecutive wild cards to play the Women’s Hospital Classic in the past.

Sunday’s July 23 – SCHEDULE

Court 9 – starting at 9 a.m.
Ann Li vs Caty McNally
Caitlin Whoriskey vs Loraine Guillermo
Garcia / Proctor vs Devidze/ Morra

Court 12 – starting at 9 a.m.
Allie Kiick vs Kennedy Shaffer
Sebastiani Leon vs Marcela Zacarias
Guillermo / Kobelt vs Morozova vs Nemtsova

Teen Matchup Set for Thursday

Ryan McDaniel — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 22:12:05 +0000

Remaining main draw matches brought a lot of excitement today. As the first round concluded, fans were treated to several three set matches. Sixth seeded Alexandra Morozova needed all three sets to take down wild-card winner Dalayna Hewitt. After two and a half hours, Morozova won 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(7). Meanwhile over on Court 1, Osuigwe and Stewart pushed each other to the limit. Both girls battled through pain as their match also lasted two and a half hours with Osuigwe winning 6-1,3-6,7-6(3). But the longest match of the day belonged to Court 9 (stadium court). Cameron Morra and Marcela Zacarias fought for three hours with Zacarias ultimately pulling it out. 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2.

Wimbledon junior singles finalist, Ann Li defeated fellow American Alexa Graham 6-3, 7-5. Li will look to continue her hot streak tomorrow against Whitney Osuigwe. Osuigwe and Li recently played each other at the Easter Bowl Championships. Osuigwe won 7-5, 7-6(5). Osuigwe is currently the 2nd ranked junior in the world while Li is ranked 14th.

Other winners today include Ellie Douglas (USA), Lorraine Guillermo (USA), Taylor Robinson (USA), and Caty McNally. McNally who qualified for the second straight year defeated Jaeda Daniel routinely with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Miami (OH) bound Makenzie Myers drew a large crowd as the local community cheered her on against Abigail Desiatnikov. Desiatnikov downed the wild card recipient 6-1, 6-0.
Caitlin Whoriskey is scheduled to play Ellie Douglas. Douglas is currently the number 23-rankd junior in the world. She reached the doubles quarterfinals at junior Wimbledon this year and also advanced to the third round in singles. She also reached the finals of Easter Bowl this spring.

Defending champion, Kennedy Shaffer will play Abigail Desiatnikov. Desiatnikov qualified this year and had a career high junior ranking inside the top 100.

To view Thursday July 27th schedule please visit USTA Pro Circuit