ETC, since its opening in October 2012, has seen its players grow and mature as they navigated their way through high school. The kids spend several days a week with the staff and friends on court. And many of them have done this for several years creating an impactful relationship with their peers and coaches. It is always tough watching these players move on and graduate from the program, but at the same time we are excited and happy to see them move forward and succeed in the next chapter of their life.

We had several players finish their junior career this summer – the largest single class ETC has ever had graduate. While most of these players will be entering their freshman year of college a few players are currently competing in their final season of high school tennis. Watching each and everyone of them mature over the last several years has been very enjoyable and sometimes laughable. They have shown great leadership on and off the court, whether it be helping or encouraging younger players, providing rides to and from practice, helping with homework, or simply being respectful to others.

Current and former staff members have spent countless hours in the car and at tournaments with many of them. We have watched some grow from a shy insecure player who cannot remember where they left their water or bag to an social, organized, accountable, and responsible young adult. Traveling with our players is a perk of the job. Not only do we get to watch them compete, learn more about them, but we get to develop a long lasting relationship with them that will carry well beyond college life.

We would like to thank all of these players for their hard work, dedication, leadership, and attitudes. We wish you all the very best of luck in the years to come and encourage you to come back to visit.

Thank you: Lauren Marx, Lauryn Thompson, Brandon Wu, Nick Johnson, Michael Koch, Evan Bottorff, Evan Ferguson, James Vincent and Ross Effinger.

Thank you once again to all of the sponsors who allowed our Pro Circuit Event – The Women’s Hospital Classic to happen. Its because of our sponsors, volunteers and selfless Tournament Directors, Anna Hazlett and Kim Poynter we are able to host this event for 19 years. This year proved to be successful once again as fans were able to watch some of the youngest and brightest stars play. Ann Li captured her first pro title here in Evansville this year. The junior Wimbledon finalist, along with several other young Americans gave us a glimpse of what the future of American tennis holds.

Sponsors –

The Women’s Hospital (Deaconess)

Industrial Transport Services

Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream

Hollander Group
Schultheis Insurance
American Windows
MaddenCo Inc.
Jack Rogers Realtor
Anna Hazlett
Evansville Visitors & Convention Bureau
Kenny Kent Toyota
Evansville Surgical Associates
Michele Bennett Accounting
Gaslin Insurance

Award World Trophies
Evansville Living
Kempf’s Donut Bank
Howard Johnson
Body Works
Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream
Bob’s Gym
Starlight Printing
Gem Chemical
Working Distributors
Frontier Liquor
Mills Body Shop
AmeriLite
Advanced Disposal
Walmart
Sam’s Club

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.

Monday’s schedule will feature a mix of qualifying and main draw matches. Caitlin Whoriskey, 2014 finalist, is scheduled to play Alona Bondarenko of the Ukraine on Stadium Court, not before 11:00 am.. Top seeded Whoriskey competed in the doubles draw at Wimbledon thus year and is currently ranked inside the top 125 in women’s doubles. The former University of Tennessee standout, was named the 2010 College Senior Player of the Year after leading the Volunteers to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.

Last year’s champion, Kennedy Shaffer returns to Evansville to defend her title. She is entering her senior year at the University of Georgia where she received All-America honors in doubles this past season. She also received All-America honors in singles in her sophomore season. Shaffer is scheduled to play on Court 1, not before 11:00am.

Playing just her fourth tournament since July 2015, Allie Kiick makes her Evansville debut. Kiick has missed time with four knee surgeries and after being diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer. She peaked at world number 136 in 2014, and looks to get back into form this week. As a junior she was a singles finalist at the 2013 USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships.

Sunday’s July 23 – SCHEDULE

Court 1 – starting at 9 a.m.
Elysia Bolton vs Peyton Stearns
Kollie Allen vs Madison Appel
Anastasia Nefedova vs Kennedy Shaffer
Boyd/Iyer vs Daniel/Parks

Court 7 – starting at 9 a.m.
Lorraine M. Guillermo vs Csilla Fodor
Olivia Hauger vs Cassie Mercer
Mirana Tona vs Sebastiani Leon
Audrey Marquard vs Madeleine Kobelt

Court 9 (Stadium Court) – starting at 9 a.m.
Lauren Proctor vs Katerina Stewart
Salome Devidze vs Caty McNally
Caitlin Whoriskey vs Alona Bondarenko
Sara Daavetilla vs Magdalena Ekert

Court 12 – starting at 9 a.m.
Abigail Desiatnikov vs Kathleen Derienzo
Jada Robinson vs Meghan Kelley
Allie Kiick vs Stephanie Nemtsova
Fisch/Meyer vs Devidze/Morra

Caitlin Whoriskey, 29, East Sandwich, Mass.
• Top seed in Evansville
• 2014 Evansville Singles Finalist
• Competed in doubles draw at Wimbledon this year. Ranked in the top 125 in women’s doubles.
• Won the 2014 US Open National Playoffs women’s singles tile to earn a wild card into US Open qualifying, where she won her first round match
• A former University of Tennessee standout, she was named the 2010 College Senior Player of the Year after leading the Volunteers to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
• Holds 14 career USTA Pro Circuit/ ITF Circuit Doubles titles, including at the $100,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Midland Mich., earlier this year.
• Captured her first career USTA Pro Circuit singles title in 2014 at the $10,000 event in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Also won the $25,000 event in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2016.

Whitney Osuigwe, 15, Bradenton, Fla.
• The No. 2-ranked junior in the world, behind only fellow American Claire Liu.
• Won the 2017 French Open girls’ singles title, beating Liu in the second-ever all-American French Open girls’ final.
• Became only the fourth American girls’ singles champion at Roland Garros and the first since Jennifer Capriati in 1989.
• Also reached the singles quarterfinals at Junior Wimbledon this year, as well as the girls’ doubles final.
• Won the doubles title at the 2017 Easter Bowl, a prestigious junior event, while reaching the singles quarterfinals. As 14-year-old in December 2016, reached the semifinals of the clay-court Orange Bowl, another prestigious junior event.

Allie Kiick, 22, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Is playing in her fourth tournament since July 2015. Missed time with four knee surgeries and after being diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer.
• Won her first $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in 2015 in Charlottesville, Va. Also holds three additional USTA Pro Circuit and ITF Pro Circuit singles titles, as well as an ITF doubles titles she won in Canada in 2013.
• Peaked at No. 136 in the world in 2014.
• As a junior player, was a singles finalist at the 2013 USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships. Also, won the Girls’ 18s doubles title with Sachia Vickery, allowing her to make her Grand Slam main-draw debut in the 2013 US Open women’s doubles event.
• Is the daughter of Jim Kiick, a running back on the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. Mother, Mary Johnson, is a former professional softball player.

Kennedy Shaffer, 20, Rossford, Ohio
• Defending champion in Evansville, winning the title last year for her first USTA Pro Circuit title.
• Rising senior at the University of Georgia.
• Received All-America honors in doubles this past season after reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championships.
• Also received All-America honors in singles in her sophomore season after reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championships.
• In her freshman season, helped the Bulldogs reached the Final Four of the NCAA Team Championships.

Ann Li, 17, Devon, Pa.
• Tournament wild card.
• Reached this year’s Wimbledon junior final, facing Claire Liu in the second-ever all-American girls final at Wimbledon, dating back to 1947.

• Ranked a career-high No. 14 in the ITF World Junior Rankings.
• Advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2017 Easter Bowl, while reaching the doubles final.
• Committed to attend college tennis at LSU.

 

Caitlin Whoriskey almost returned to the United States after losing her doubles qualifying match for Wimbledon.

She had been in Great Britain for roughly a month playing other tournaments and wanted to take some time off before this week’s Women’s Hospital Classic at Wesselman Park.

But she and her partner decided to stay a few more days in London. A tournament supervisor eventually called them with news they made the main draw as the third and final Lucky Losers. They were told they were on-deck to play after a men’s match, which was already two sets to none.

“We were in a panic for a few minutes,” Whoriskey said. “But we got our heads straight, came up with a game plan and had fun because for me it was my first time playing there.”

Whoriskey and her partner, Ashley Weinhold, lost in two sets, but they made the right decision to stay around. Not every tennis player gets a chance to play the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.

“The moment I stepped into the venue I was in awe,” Whoriskey said. “The tradition and the history that comes with it, it was a beautiful place. To be on the grounds was incredible.”

She will be the top-seeded singles player in the Women’s Hospital Classic main draw when play begins Tuesday. Qualifying is underway Sunday and Monday.

Still, her singles ranking is 368th compared to being 119th in doubles. She hasn’t played singles since late May because she got on a roll with doubles and wanted it to keep going until Wimbledon.

Whoriskey thought returning to Evansville would be good fit considering she finished as the runner-up the other time she played in 2014.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to see what I can do and hopefully make the best of it like I did last time,” Whoriskey said. “Hopefully I can top that if I play well.”

Last year’s winner Kennedy Shaffer is returning to defend her title. Also in the main draw is 15-year-old Whitney Osuigwe, who is the top-ranked junior in the world.

Former Memorial High School standout Makenzie Myers was granted a wildcard for the second time before she heads to Miami University for her freshman year.

This is the 19th year Wesselman Park is hosting the USTA Women’s Pro Circuit event and the payout is larger than ever. The total purse is $15,000 compared previously being $10,000 in order to promote and provide financial support to the young and aspiring players.

There’s always a mix of players ranging from professionals like Whoriskey to juniors seeking their first few points.

“It’s a pretty decent level tournament,” Whoriskey said. “One girl has been top 200 but has had a lot of injuries lately and is looking to come back, and there are a lot of good college players who have done well in the NCAA tournament.”

If all goes to plan and she can stay healthy, playing singles more often will improve her ranking to a point where she can play qualifiers for grand slams. If not, she’ll go back to doubles.

Whoriskey is in Evansville for her first tournament since Wimbledon, and she’s optimistic she’ll leave just as satisfied.

“It’s going to be hot so hopefully everyone stays healthy and it’s a good tournament for everyone to come out and watch,” she said.

To view Monday’s Order of Play click here

Kolie Allen made her second trip to Evansville this year. Allen played and won the Evansville Community Tennis Association’s National Junior event in May. Allen, who is currently ranked 31 will play Lisa Thomas on Court 3. They will begin at 9:00 a.m.

University of Southern Indiana signee Lauryn Thompson, drew Indiana University senior Madison Appel on Sunday’s first round. Appel beat Thompson 6-0,6-0 and will play Ceijenia Cornelius of Oral Roberts University.

Monday Order of Play- 9:00am Start Time

Monday July 23 – SCHEDULE
Court 1 – starting at 9 a.m.
Caty McNally vs Sumvutra Iyengar
Kathleen Derienzo vs Eva Raszkiewicz
Court 2 – starting at 9 a.m.
Abigail Desiatnikov vs Mackenzy Middlebrooks
Sophie Abrams vs Salome Devidze
Court 3 – starting at 9 a.m.
Kolie Allen vs Lisa Thomas
Katerina Stewart vs TBA
Court 4 – starting at 9 a.m.
Madison Appel vs Celjenia Cornelius
Sophia Hatton vs Lauren Proctor
Court 5 – starting at 9 a.m.
Olivia Hauger vs Lindsay Song
Csilla Fodor vs Alexis Thoma
Court 6 – starting at 9 a.m.
Madison Westby vs Cassie Mercer
Lorraine M. Guillermo vs Audrey Ann Blakely
Court 11 – starting at 9 a.m.
Jada Robinson vs Chiara Lommer
Caitlin Bernard vs Peyton Stearns
Court 12 – starting at 9 a.m.
Meghan Kelley vs Ayan Broomfield
Charlotte Petrick vs Elysia Bolton

Caty McNally, 15, is scheduled to be the second match on Court 2. McNally returns this year in hopes to improve on her Round of 16 finish last year. She has put together a strong summer, with solid results at this years’ Grand Slams. At the Australian Open, McNally and her partner ended their run with a semi-finals appearance. She later competed in the Roland Garros Junior French Open where she lost to her doubles partner Whitney Osuigwe (USA) in the quarter-finals. McNally and Osuigwe partnered up again at Wimbledon and eventually lost in the final.

Incoming University of Southern Indiana freshman, Lauryn Thompson, is slated to play on Court 12, following Celjenia Cornelius vs Gail Falkenberg. Lauryn recently graduated from Reitz High School and is playing in her first Pro Circuit and ITF event.