PETE ZIEBRON in PHOENIX
American Maxine Thomas in one of the first matches of the day. Pete Ziebron Images
The initial round of qualification of the Goldwater Women's Tennis Classic got underway today at 9 AM at the Phoenix Country Club. The tournament, one of the largest on the ITF Women's Circuit is the last opportunity in the US in 2011 for players to gain points for entry into the 2012 Australian Open.
Two years ago, the tournament debuted as a $50,000 ITF event. Last year, the event expanded its prize money to $75,000 and Tournament Director Sara Stablein hopes that next year the Goldwater Classic can even grow to reach the $100,000 prize money mark. All proceeds from the 2011 tournament will go to Ryan House, a local non-profit that provides respite and palliative care for chldren with life threatening conditions.
All of the seeded players in the qualification draw advanced today, including #8 seed American Jennifer Elie (pictured below)
Jennifer Elie saved a Match Point and needed a 3rd set tiebreaker to finally defeat Russian Vasilisa Bardina. Pete Ziebron Images
The 2011 Goldwater field boasts several notable players, including:
Elena Bovina, once the 14th ranked player in the world. Bovina has battled back from a serious shoulder injury and will play American Macall Harkins in a 2nd round qualification match tomorrow on the Stadium Court. Bovina advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2002 US Open, as well as to the round of 16 at the 2003 Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2005. The tall Russian is seeking to regain the form that led her into the top 15 in the world in 2005.
Alexandra Stevenson, the American who made an improbable run all the way to the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1999, where she lost to eventual Champion Lindsay Davenport. Stevenson reached a career high of 18 in the world in 2003.
Sessil Karatantcheva, who defeated Venus Williams in the 3rd round at Roland Garros in 2005 and then proceeded to advance to the quarterfinals. This impressive run on the clay helped Karatantcheva achieve a career high of 35 in the world in 2005. At the time, Karatantcheva played for her native country of Bulgaria and she currently plays for Kazakhstan.
Irina Falconi, the 2011 Gold Medalist at the Pan American Games. Falconi also defeated world #15 Dominika Cibulkova in the 2nd round of this year's US Open. The American is the #1 seed in the 2011 Goldwater Classic and reached a career high of #73 in the world 3 weeks ago. Falconi lost a tough semifinal match in last year's Goldwater Classic to defending and eventual Champion Varvara Lepchenko.
Monica Puig, the 2011 Silver Medalist at the Pan American Games. The Puerto Rican native was a Finalist this year at the Junior Australian Open as well as the Junior Roland Garros tournament. Last year at the Goldwater Classic, Puig won 3 qualification matches and gave American Christina McHale all she could handle in a tight 1st round contest.
Play continues in the qualification round tomorrow at 9 AM on 3 courts at the Phoenix Country Club. Main draw action will begin on Tuesday morning at 9 AM, followed by the Player's Party in the evening.
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