$75,000 Midland - Lucie Hradecka (champion)
23-year old Lucie Hradecka from the Czech Republic won her 14th career singles title on the ITF Women’s Circuit on Sunday at the 21st annual Dow Corning Tennis Classic, a $75,000 ITF Pro Circuit tournament in Midland, MI, USA.
Her 63 63 victory over Eleni Daniilidou saw her break into the WTA Top 100 for the first time with a ranking of 92. Along with her winner’s cheque, Hradecka was also presented with a two-carat diamond bracelet courtesy of tournament sponsor Jenkins Jewellers.
The doubles title was won by Rika Fujiwara & Yi Chen who, between them, have now won 26 ITF doubles titles. Playing together for the first time they did not drop a set all week and scored impressive victories over the No. 1 seed and No. 4 seed en route to the title.
Player Quotes
“I knew I could do it because I had done it two times before”
Evgeniya Rodina after defeating number 2 seed Melinda Czink for third consecutive time
“That I still have a ways to go to beat the 65th ranked player”
Lauren Albanese when asked, after defeat, what she’d learnt from playing the 65th ranked player and top seed Alla Kudryavtseva
“I served well and kept her off-balance. I couldn’t have played better”
Irina-Camelia Begu after her shock 62 61 second round win over top seed Alla Kudryavtseva
“She just played better”
Number one seed Alla Kudryavtseva following her exit to qualifier Irina-Camelia Begu
“I think it’s great. The hospitality and the entire tournament is run first-rate”
Vania King on her first experience of playing in Midland.
“It has been a long time”
Eleni Daniilidou on reaching her first semi final since September 2007
“She had nothing to lose and just loosened up and couldn’t miss”
Katie O’Brien on Begu’s run of three games from 62 50 30-0 down in their quarterfinal match
“That first set she was playing Top 20 tennis”
Eleni Daniilidou on losing the first set 61 in her semi final victory over Katie O’Brien
“I don’t like it when people say I’m known more for doubles, Singles is my No.1 priority right now”
A smiling Lucie Hradecka, winner of 23 doubles titles on the ITF Pro Circuit from 34 finals and 5 doubles titles from 6 finals on the WTA Tour
“I love it here. Of course, I had heard about the tournament and how well it’s run. They just do an unbelievable job”
Eleni Daniilidou, singles runner up