American Allie Kiick Stuns Melanie Oudin at the Women’s Pro Classic — Local Lauren Embree Fall is Four Hour Marathon Match

Written by: Staff on 6th November 2013

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American Allie Kiick Stuns Melanie Oudin at the Women's Pro Classic -- Local Lauren Embree Fall is Four Hour Marathon Match |

November 6, 2013, CAPTIVA, FLORIDA – Wednesday’s matches and line-up of American tennis stars playing at the Women’s Pro Classic turned out to be an exciting day of tennis on Captiva at the South Seas Island Resort with local Lauren Embree, Melanie Oudin, Victoria Duval and Taylor Townsend all in action today.

Getting things underway this morning was Lauren Embree of the Naples area who battled in a three set marathon match lasting four hours and 27 minutes before falling to qualifier Chiara Scholl 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 in the first round of the Singles Main Draw of the Women’s Pro Classic.

Also in action on Wednesday was top American Singles seed Melanie Oudin (#3) against fellow American Allie Kiick of South Florida at high noon on Stadium Court. After winning the first set, Oudin was defeated by Kiick who came back to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-0. Also defeated in the first round of the Singles Main Draw today was rising American player Taylor Townsend who lost to #8 seed Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-2.

Prevailing in action on Wednesday at the Women’s Pro Classic was young American tennis star Victoria Duval who cruised past American opponent Jacqueline Cako 6-1, 3-1 ret. to advance to the Round of 16 in the Singles Draw. Along with this, Maria Sanchez (#4 seed) and Julia Cohen (#6 seed) also won their matches to advance in the Women’s Pro Classic along with #2 seed Mandy Minella. Top seed Michelle Larcher de Brito was defeated by Sanaz Marand when their match resumed play from a rain delay on Tuesday.

“With the upset of Melanie Oudin today, it goes to show that the young American players advancing in the draw are part of the next generation of American players who are coming up strong,” said Tournament Director Nick Blackwell.

On Thursday, the Round of 16 (second round) Singles Main Draw will hit the courts again starting at 9:30 a.m. when Maria Sanchez, Julia Cohen and Allie Kiick are all back in action for their second round matches. Other top seeded Americans Victoria Duval and Jessica Puegula will also be on-court at South Seas Island Resort for their Round of 16 matches For Thursday’s schedule of matches, anyone who comes out to the Women’s Pro Classic wearing the South Seas Island Resort club logo will receive a drink ticket for a complimentary beverage of their choice on-site.

The Women’s Pro Classic is a $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit Women’s Event and the final opportunity for players to obtain WTA Tour points in the U.S. to qualify for the 2014 Australian Open. Of those in the Singles Main Draw, Melanie Oudin, who has been ranked as high as #31 in the WTA Tour Singles Rankings, is known for her thrilling run at the 2009 US Open where she defeated Maria Sharapova to advance to the Quarterfinals. Just this summer, Victoria Duval captured the hearts of Americans at the 2013 US Open after defeating Grand Slam Singles Champion Sam Stosur in the first round. In addition to this, Taylor Townsend has had breakthrough junior accomplishments on her way to playing the USTA Pro Circuit events winning the Junior Australian Open Singles Championship in 2012 and finishing the year ranked number one in Girls Singles Junior ITF World rankings.

The South Seas Island Resort Women’s Pro Classic is being held at the award-winning South Seas Island Resort in beautiful Captiva, Florida from November 3rd-10th at the Pavel & Blackwood Tennis Academy. The Main Draw Singles and Doubles play will begin on Tuesday, November 5th, with the Finals taking place on Sunday, November 10th. Throughout the week, the Women’s Pro Classic will showcase world class tennis from bringing the game’s emerging and future tennis stars to the area while benefiting three local philanthropic causes – the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, Madisen’s Match and Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Inc.

This year’s Title Sponsor for the Women’s Pro Classic is the South Seas Island Resort with Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille as the Presenting Sponsor. Additional sponsors include Sofibella, NU Men’s Formal Tennis, Pro Graphx and PSAV.

For more information on the South Seas Island Resort Women’s Pro Classic, visit http://ssirproclassic.com, on facebook at www.facebook.com/ssirproclassic or on twitter @ssir50k along. For more information on USTA Pro Circuits, visit www.usta.com or on twitter @USTAProCirctuit.

ALL RESULTS:

Women’s Singles Main Draw Round of 32

Mandy MINELLA (LUX) [2] def. Chieh-Yu HSU (USA) 6-4 6-1

Ulrikke EIKERI (NOR) def. Nikki KALLENBERG (USA) 6-0 6-1

Sanaz MARAND (USA) def. Michelle LARCHER DE BRITO (POR) [1] 6-4 4-6 6-4

Julia BOSERUP (USA) def. Anna TATISHVILI (GEO) [5] 7-6(5) 3-0 Ret.

Heidi EL TABAKH (CAN) def. Maria-Fernanda ALVES (BRA) 2-6 6-3 6-3

Chiara SCHOLL (USA) def. Lauren EMBREE (USA) 6-7(2) 6-3 7-5

Allie KIICK (USA) def. Melanie OUDIN (USA) [3] 3-6 6-3 6-0

Jessica PEGULA (USA) [8] def. Taylor TOWNSEND (USA) 6-2 6-2

Allie WILL (USA) def. Alexandra MUELLER (USA) 7-6(5) 6-3

Victoria DUVAL (USA) [7] def. Jacqueline CAKO (USA) 6-1 3-1 Ret.

Elitsa KOSTOVA (BUL) def. Marta DOMACHOWSKA (POL) 6-1 7-6(7)

Double Main Draw Round of 16:

Samantha CRAWFORD (USA) / Maria SANCHEZ (USA) def. Natalie PLUSKOTA (USA) / Caitlin WHORISK6E-Y3 (6U-S4A )

Heidi EL TABAKH (CAN) / Allie KIICK (USA) def. Maria-Fernanda ALVES (BRA) [2] / Catalina 7C-A6S(T5A) N3-O6 ([C1O0-L7)]

Emily J. HARMAN (USA) / Jessica PEGULA (USA) [4] def. Anne-Liz JEUKENG (USA) / Jessica LAWRENC7-E6 (U5)S A6-)2

Gabriela DABROWSKI (CAN) / Allie WILL (USA) [1] def. Lauren EMBREE (USA) / Nikki KALLENBERG 6(U-3S A6-)3

Michelle SAMMONS (RSA) / Chiara SCHOLL (USA) def. Nicole GIBBS (USA) / Chieh-Yu HSU (USA) 4-6 7-5 [10-7]

SCHEDULE:

Thursday, November 7th

Singles Main Draw Round of 16: 9:30 a.m. Start Time

Doubles Main Draw Round of 16 & Quarterfinals: Second on after 10:30 a.m. Start Time

About Pavel & Blackwood Academy

The Pavel & Blackwood Tennis Academy was founded by top 15 ATP Tour player Andrei Pavel and successful junior development coach Nick Blackwood. The Pavel & Blackwood Tennis Academy provides premier opportunities for both junior and professional players as well as programming for adults of all abilities, including beginners. With a combination of physical training, mental development and an emphasis on education for junior players, the Academy creates an environment where each hard-working player is a winner.

About South Seas Island Resort

Seemingly set adrift off the Florida Gulf Coast, South Seas Island Resort is an unspoiled haven, encompassing a wildlife preserve and two-and-half miles of shell-strewn beaches, lapped by turquoise tides. Recently recognized by MSNBC as a “Top 10 Best Place in the World to Experience Local Wildlife,” South Seas Island Resort is set on 330 unspoiled acres with a rich variety of wildlife and boundless opportunity for adventure and relaxation. The resort boasts a “Family, Nature, Comfort.” approach to hospitality, which is why generations of families have made the resort village the destination of choice for sharing treasured moments and making lasting memories. The resort offers a variety of accommodations including villas, condominiums, cottages and homes. Guests enjoy world-class shelling along the beach golf on a 9-hole executive course, the H2Whoa! Water Park, an engaging ScoutAbout exploration program for families and a list of family-oriented water sports, activities and interactive educational programs through the Sanibel Sea School. Ideal for events, this resort features a variety of venues and over 31,000 square feet of flexible function space. www.southseas.com

About USTA Pro Circuits

With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. The USTA launched its Pro Circuit 34 years ago to provide players with the opportunity to gain professional ranking points, and it has since grown to become the largest developmental tennis circuit in the world, offering nearly $3 million in prize money. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries competed in cities nationwide. Mardy Fish, Maria Sharapova, John Isner, Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Querrey, Li Na and Andy Murray are among today’s top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.

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Today at the Women’s Pro Classic on Captiva local resident Lauren Embree was defeated by fellow American Chiara Scholl 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 is a thrilling four hour 27 minute match in the first round of the Singles Main Draw at the Women’s Pro Classic on Captiva.

Prevailing in action on Wednesday at the Women’s Pro Classic was up-and-coming American Allie Kiick who defeated American tennis star Melanie Oudin 3-6, 6-3, 6-0. Young American tennis star Victoria Duval cruised past American opponent Jacqueline Cako 6-1, 3-1 ret. to advance to the Round of 16 in the Singles Draw. Along with this, Americans Maria Sanchez (#4 seed) and Julia Cohen (#6 seed) also won their matches to advance in the Women’s Pro Classic along with #2 seed Mandy Minella. Top seed Michelle Larcher de Brito was defeated by Sanaz Marand when their match resumed play from a rain delay on Tuesday.

Enclosed below and attached are additional details and a full recap in today’s press release along with more information on tomorrow’s headlining matches and emerging American stars scheduled to play this week including Victoria Duval, Maria Sanchez and Julia Cohen when matches get underway at 9:30 a.m. on THURSDAY at South Seas.

Local tie-in stories for this year’s Women’s Pro Classic players include:

Lauren Embree:

Born in Naples, Florida, Lauren Embree made her USTA Pro Circuit debut at the age of 16. As a junior, she has competed in the 2006 U.S. Open Junior championships and reached the round of 16 at the 2009 Australian Open Junior Championships.

Embree graduated from Lely High School in Naples in 2009, and in May of the same year, she qualified as a wild card for the 2009 French Open, her first participation in a Grand Slam tournament. She lost to Nadia Petrova in the first round, and turned down a €15,000 prize to remain an amateur.

She accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and now plays for coach Roland Thornqvist’s Florida Gators women’s tennis team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition. In 2011, she was a key member of the Gators’ national championship team that defeated the Stanford Cardinal women’s tennis team in the final of the NCAA women’s tennis tournament.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Allie Kiick, Jacqueline Cako, Lauren Embree, Mandy Minella, Melanie Oudin, Sanaz Marand, Taylor Townsend, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Duval, Women's Pro Classic