Riske in Semis; Banana Opens

SPLISH, SPLASH Takin’ a (Banana) Bath … story below

TENNIS E-NEWS

Friday, June 05, 2009 Vol. VIII, No. 64
2006 Winner of South Carolina Media Award
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Where Are the Spectators?

Riske in 2 Sets Advances to Semis, Free Kids Day on Saturday at $10K USTA Women’s Championship

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) – Alison Riske, the Pittsburgh area recent high school grad now training on HHI, scored a straight-set win over former Southern Cal ace Lindsey Nelson to advance to Saturday semifinals of the $10,000 Head/Tail USTA Women’s Championship at Van Der Meer Tennis Center. Matchtime is 9 a.m. Admission is free to spectators.

“Where are the spectators?” was a common conversation topic among the few watching the young pros smack punishing groundstrokes, serves and overheads. These names are going to be popping up on winning lists throughout the year and beyond. Last year’s champion Mallory Cecil won the NCAA Div. I singles championship last month and is working her way up the world rankings.

Riske, who will set out for her freshman year at Vanderbilt in the fall, rolled to a fast start against the former PAC-10 standout who lost in the NCAA singles finals three years ago. After a 5-0 start, Riske won the first set 6-1, then the second settled into a baseline groundstroke dual with a couple service breaks tossed in.

The #4 seed Riske fell behind in the second set, got back to a tiebreak and was down again before recovering and winning it 8-6. She will take on #5 Maria-Fernanda Alves of Brazil in the 9 a.m. semifinal. Top seed Alexandra Mueller of the USA and #3 Petra Rampre of Slovakia will battle in the followup match.

When singles are completed, the doubles final will go on pitting #2 seed Riske/Jacqueline Cako against Natalie Pluskota/Caitlin Whoriskey.

The singles final is set for Sunday at 10 a.m.

Today’s results

Singles Quarterfinals

Maria-Fernanda Alves (BRA) [5] def. Jessica Pegula (USA) 6-0, 6-4

Alison Riske (USA) def. Lindsey Nelson (USA) 6-1, 7-6(6)

Petra Rampre (SLO) [3] def. Caitlin Whoriskey (USA) 6-3, 6-4

Alexandra Mueller (USA) def. Allie Will (USA) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles Semifinals:

Natalie Pluskota (USA) / Caitlin Whoriskey (USA) def. Chelsea Orr (USA) / Anda Perlanu (ROU) 6-1, 6-3

Jacqueline Cako (USA) / Alison Riske (USA) [2] def. Rachel Kahan (USA) / Caryssa L. Peretz (USA) 6-3, 6-1

Saturday schedule

Singles semifinals

9 a.m. –

Alison Riske (USA) [4] vs. Maria-Fernanda Alves (BRA) [5]

Followed by:

Alexandra Mueller (USA) [1] vs. Petra Rampre (SLO) [3]

FREE Kids Day Clinic Saturday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – A free Kids Day Clinic Saturday from 11 a. m. to 12:30 p.m. at Van Der Meer Tennis Center will provide instruction for ages 6 through 16 and include the USTA Quickstart program for those 9 and younger. Pizza and refreshments will be available after the clinic.

Matches Resume Early, Early Saturday

SPLISH, SPLASH … Takin’ a (Banana) Bath … 30^th Annual Under Way ,.. Sort of

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – The 30^th annual Banana Open got its feet wet midway through the afternoon and will have a very early wakeup call for many of the 225 players entered at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center.

Matches started at midday. “We had many 3 and 3:30 matches well under way,” Tournament Director Jackie Reynecke said. Then the sky let loose, prompting those matches to be resumed at 7 a.m.. “That leaves 36 matches still yet to be made up on Saturday morning early – then we’ll proceed on through the day,” she said.

The 30^th Banana will proceed with men’s and women’s singles and doubles, plus mixed doubles, in rating divisions from 2.5 to Open. Champions will advance to the October Banana Open Challenge against winners from other local Bananas throughout the Southeast.

So far as it got today, here are the matches that were completed. Players are from Hilton Head Island unless otherwise noted:

Men's 3.5 Singles -- Round of 16 -- Tim Roberts, Beaufort, d. Larry Stoller, Bluffton 6-3; 6-0

Men's 3.5 Doubles -- Round of 16 -- Bill Cale - Dwight Trew d. Reece Parker, Snellville GA - Brian Witmer 6-4; 2-6; 6-3

Men's 4.5 Singles – Quarterfinals -- Brad Orwig, Bluffton, d. Jeff Nesler, Pickerington OH 6-0; 6-2; Scott Christensen, Bluffton, d. Daniel Taylor, Savannah GA 6-2; 6-4; Joe MacDermant d. Rick Malone, Dublin OH 6-0; 6-0

Mixed 4.5 Doubles – Quarterfinals -- Beth Cunningham, Richmond VA - Dan Cunningham, Richmond,VA d. Stewart Atkins, Asheville NC - Mimi Stevenson 6-1; 6-2

Women's 3.5 Doubles -- Round of 16 -- Trish Bowman, Macon GA - Judy Mangum, Ft. Valley GA d. Indie Harris, Beaufort, - Martha Upchurch, Walterboro, 6-3; 6-2; Kerri Cooke - Carolyn Kraus d. Lee Ann Norris, Savannah GA - Christie Self, Savannah GA 6-2; 5-7; 6-2

3 Want To Join Summer Mixed Doubles Team

“I'm looking for a 6.0 to 7.0 mixed doubles team for my daughter, son-in-law and me,” writes new TENNIS E-NEWS subscriber Sue Russell. To contact her, email gimbe3@yahoo.com.

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Upcoming Tournaments/Activity:

May 30-June 7: USTA Women’s $10,000 Satellite Tournament / Van der Meer Tennis Center / Sponsored by Head/Tail / Qualifying May 31-June 1 / Main Draw June 2-7 / Free to spectators; player exhibitions included. / For information, call Justyn Schelver 785-8388 ext 119.

June 5-7: The Banana Open / Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center / Men’s & Women’s singles and doubles, plus mixed doubles / Rating levels 2.5 through Open / Winners advance to Banana Open Challenge in October / Call PD at 785-1152.

June 18-21: Sun City Senior Doubles Tournament / Sun City Tennis Club / USTA-sanctioned age and rating divisions in men’s, women’s & mixed doubles / TennisLink ID #704100909 / for additional info contact Ernie Clark at tennisracquets@yahoo.com.

June 26-28: Beaufort Summer Splash!! / Beaufort Tennis Center/Beaufort High School / USTA-sanctioned / Men's, women's and mixed NTRP divisions (ID #704110609) / For information, contact Cathy McGill at catmcgill@embarqmail.com.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) When you get mad, take 10 deep breaths.

( ) If you are still mad, it’s okay to hurt someone.

(___) -- “What I Learned So Far” by Jason Love

-- Dennis Malick