McHale Proving To Be A Tough Out For Top Players

Written by: Staff on 2nd September 2011

McHale Proving To Be A Tough Out For Top Players

Christina McHale of the US hits a return to Marion Bartoli of France during their second round match on the third day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 31 August 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

(Courtesy of USTA)

In her brief professional career Christina McHale has forged a reputation for being a difficult opponent, with victories this summer alone over world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and, in the second round on Wednesday, No. 8 seed Marion Bartoli. McHale grew up and still lives in New Jersey, and she trains frequently with USTA coaches at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. She also lived at USTA Player Development Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. for the first three years of the program’s residency program. McHale entered the 2011 US Open as the youngest player in the Top 100 and has seen her ranking soar from No. 712 at year-end 2007 to No. 425 in 2008 to No. 218 in 2009 to No. 115 in 2010 to No. 55 as of Aug. 29. A former Top 10 player in the world junior rankings, McHale won the 2009 USTA Girls’ 18s singles and doubles titles to earn wild cards into the US Open, knocking off then-No. 81 Polona Hercog in the women’s singles before falling to Maria Sharapova in the second round. Last year McHale lost to fellow American Vania King in three sets in the first round here, and she has also competed in the main draws of the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, reaching the second round at the All England Club in June.