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2011 U.S. OPEN NATIONAL PLAYOFFS: Two for Two! Blake Strode Repeats As Men's National Playoffs Winner!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Blake Strode, USA - 2011 U.S. Open National Playoffs Men's Champion
He's done it again!
St. Louis native Blake Strode has repeated his 2010 championship run at the this year's U.S. Open National Playoffs at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Strode defeated Australian Nathan Healey 7-68, 7-64.
By winning the tournament, Strode receives a wild card into the 2011 U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament to be held August 23-26, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.
In 2009 Strode deferred Harvard Law School to pursue a professional tennis career, a move that paid off in a victory by winning the USTA Southwest Sectional Qualifying Tournament. Strode grew into tennis as a member of his local NJTL chapter in Ferguson, Missouri, and developed into an All-American for the University of Arkansas.
The men’s final was delayed by more than two hours due to rain, with Strode serving at 1-1, 40-0. Play was moved indoors and the quick courts led to easy service holds throughout the set, with no break point opportunities.
In the tiebreaker, both players held mini-break advantages on several occasions. Strode was the first to hold a set point opportunity at 6-5, and then Healey had his own opportunity to close out the set at 8-7. In the end, a backhand sent wide from Healey at 9-8 wrapped up the opening set.
“Honestly, that tiebreak is a blur now,” said Strode. “There was a goofy volley on set point that I missed and some bad calls on both sides. I was just able to hang on in the end.”
A forehand winner from Strode in the opening game of the second set gave him an immediate service break off Healey’s serve. The Aussie veteran had a break point opportunity at 3-2 in the second set, but was unable to convert.
With Strode serving for the championship at 5-4, the timing on his shots began to abandon him. A forehand error on Healey’s first break point opportunity leveled the match at 5-5, but a backhand passing shot in the next service game gave Strode the break back at 6-5. Serving for the match once again, Strode was unable to convert and another tiebreak took place.
“It was more that he played a couple of very good return games rather than me choking or missing a couple of easy shots,” said Strode. “There’s a reason he has accomplished all he has.”
The players remained on serve in the tiebreaker until 4-4, when a slice backhand into the net from Healey gave Strode the mini-break. On his first match point at 6-4, a backhand sent long from Healey wrapped up the match and secured Strode a spot in the US Open qualifying draw.
“It’s really cool to be the inaugural champion and then come back to win it again,” said Strode. “I’m just really glad they have this because it’s gotten me into the US Open twice now!”
source: usopen.org
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Posted by Shelia at 10:04 PM Labels: 2011 U.S. Open National Playoffs, Australia. Harvard Law School, Blake Strode, Ferguson Missouri, Nathan Healey, University of Arkansas, USTA Southwest Sectional Email this post
2011 U.S. OPEN NATIONAL PLAYOFFS: Blake Strode And Robin Anderson Advance To Sunday's Finals
U.S. Open National Playoffs finalists Blake Strode and Robin Anderson
In the first men’s semifinal of the day, defending champion and No. 1 seed Blake Strode had little trouble in dispatching No. 4 seed Damon Gooch 6-1 6-1. Despite facing break points in three of his final four service games, Strode did not lose serve once all match as he easily advanced into the championship match.
“It was a lot closer than the score says,” said Strode. “He played well and there were a lot of long rallies out there, especially towards the end.”
Strode has dropped only six games in his three matches at the US Open National Playoffs, but he said that he has made sure to not get ahead of himself.
“I don’t ever think I’m the favorite when I go out there,” said Strode. “I just look at the person who’s in front of me as an obstacle and do my best to try and come through.”
In the second semifinal of the day, Anderson stormed out to a 5-0 lead in the opening set against No. 3 seed Macall Harkins and had the lead for the duration of the match, not losing her serve once throughout the contest.
“I thought I served really well out there,” said Anderson. “I started to revert back in the second set and play a little bit too defensively, but was able to hang on in the end.”
Earlier in the day, Anderson competed in her second round qualifying match at the New Haven Open, where she lost 6-0, 7-5 to Anastasia Rodionova of Australia. However, Anderson she was quickly able to put the loss out of her mind.
“I knew I had another match to get prepared for,” said Anderson. “I just put the loss right out of my mind and came out ready to play.”
Source: usopen.org
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Posted by Shelia at 1:12 AM Labels: 2011 U.S. Open Natonal Playoffs, Anastasia Rodionova, Blake Strode, Damon Gooch, Nathan Healey, New Haven Open, Robin Anderson, UCLA, Yasmin Schnack Email this post
2011 U.S. OPEN NATIONAL PLAYOFFS: Blake Strode, Mashona Washington and Robin Anderson Into Semifinals
Saturday, August 20, 2011
L-R Mashona Washington, USA, Blake Strode, USA and Robin Anderson, USA
“The rallies were much longer today than in my first match yesterday,” said Strode. “He was hitting the ball really well and came out swinging from the first point. I was just able to hang in the rallies and come out on top for the most part.”
Strode has been in dominant form as of late, having dropped just four games in his two matches so far at the event. He also won his second USTA Pro Circuit singles title last week at a $10,000 event in Edwardsville, Ill., advancing through the draw without losing a set. Since winning the wild card into last year’s US Open Qualifying Tournament, he has climbed nearly 200 spots in the rankings to his current standing of No. 447.
“I think I’m doing almost everything better on the court than 12 months ago,” said Strode. “My forehand has more speed on it and my backhand has improved quite a bit. I’m happy with how things have progressed.”
Mashona Washington took a step closer to returning to the US Open on Day 2 of the US Open National Playoffs Men's and Women's Championships.
Washington's semifinal will pit her against No. 2 seed Yasmin Schnack, she beat No. 4 seed Amanda McDowell in straight sets. Washington is the only player remaining to have ever competed in the US Open with 13 previous appearances dating back to 1994, the most recent coming in the women’s doubles event in 2009.
Robin Anderson, who will be heading to UCLA this fall for her freshman year, continued her Cinderella run through the tournament after upsetting No. 1 seed Marie-Eve Pelletier in her first round match yesterday, putting on a clinic of counterpunching tennis as she dispatched Sylvia Kosakowski 6-3, 6-2.
“I’m just trying to view every opponent as equal out there and just play as well as I possibly can,” said Anderson. “I’m not thinking too much further than what’s in front of me.”
Source: usopen.org
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Posted by Shelia at 7:56 PM Labels: Blake Strode, Marie=Eve Pelletier, Mashona Washington, Robin Anderson, Semifinals, U.S Open National Playoffs, USTA Pro Circuit, Yasmin Schnack Email this post
DREAM BIG: U.S. Open National Playoffs Registration Is Now Open - Remember Blake Strode? It Can Happen!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
For complete Playoffs information, click here.
Blake Strode won the inaugural US Open National Playoffs last year, earning a spot in the US Open Qualifying Tournament and a shot at the main draw of the 2010 US Open.
This year Strode is doubling his chances at reaching the grand stage. Strode took the first step toward repeating his US Open National Playoffs title by winning the New England Sectional Qualifying Tournament men’s singles and, for good measure, also took the mixed doubles title with partner Whitney Jones. Strode’s fellow USTA Pro Circuit regular Lena Litvak claimed the women’s title.
With the victories, Strode, Jones and Litvak earn a return trip to New Haven, Conn., the site of both the New England sectional qualifier and the US Open National Playoffs – Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles Championships. The championships will be held in conjunction with the New Haven Open at Yale, the last event of the 2011 Olympus US Open Series.
In all, there are 16 sectional qualifying tournaments, with each sending its winners to the championship round. The winners of the men’s and women’s US Open National Playoffs titles earn a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament, while the mixed doubles champions earn a wild card into the main draw of the 2011 US Open mixed doubles event.
Strode is a former All-American at the University of Arkansas who deferred Harvard Law School to pursue professional tennis. He was never tested in New Haven, dropping just 18 games in six matches and defeating Evan Tindell, a Hartford resident who played collegiately at MIT, 6-1, 6-4, in the final.
In the mixed doubles, Strode and Jones—a touring pro currently ranked in the Top 400 in the world in doubles and who, like Strode, hails from the St. Louis area—did not drop a set in four matches, dispatching the Connecticut tandem of D.J. Geatz and Tina Tehrani, 6-4, 6-3, in the final.
For Litvak, the trip to Yale’s campus for the sectional qualifier brought back memories of her college days, when she competed for Harvard for a season before turning pro. And her results were similarly successful. She dropped just 16 games in four matches en route to the title, defeating fellow New York native Julia Elbaba, an up-and-coming junior player, 6-1, 6-2, in the final.
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Posted by Shelia at 1:54 AM Labels: 2011 U.S. Open, Blake Strode, Dream Big, Lena Litvak, US Open National Playoffs, US Open Qualifying Tournament, USTA Pro Circuit Email this post
U.S. Open National Playoffs Winner Blake Strode Will Play Qualifying Tournament
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The USTA announced that the US Open Qualifying Tournament will be held August 24-27 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the site of the 2010 US Open. The tournament, which offers $1 million in prize money, is free and open to the public with play beginning daily at 11 a.m. It will feature a men's and women's draw of 128 players each, with 16 men and 16 women advancing to the main draw of the US Open, held August 30-September 12.
Players scheduled to compete in this year's qualifying run the gamut from former Grand Slam doubles champions to an Olympic gold medal winner to mothers to rising juniors looking for a chance on one of tennis' biggest stages.
The field is also expected to include the winners of the inaugural US Open National Playoffs, which gave anyone age 14 and over the opportunity to receive a wild card into the 2010 US Open Qualifying Tournament. Blake Strode, 23, of St. Louis, who won the Men's Championship, deferred Harvard Law School in 2009 to pursue a professional tennis career and competed in the 2009 US Open Qualifying Tournament, where he lost in the first round. He grew into tennis as a member of his local National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapter in Ferguson, Mo., and developed into an All-American for the University of Arkansas, where he was also a two-time SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Source: usopen.org
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Posted by Shelia at 10:37 PM Labels: 2010 U.S. Open, 2010 U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament, Blake Strode, Harvard Law School, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Email this post
WTA, ATP and USTA Pro Circuit Tennis Action This Week
Friday, September 25, 2009
SINGLES
Round 1
Angela Haynes, USA defeated by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
6-7(5), 2-6
DOUBLES
Round 1
Angela Haynes, USA and Natalie Grandin, RSA
defeated
Wen-Hsin Hsu, TPE and Junri Namigata, JPN
6-3, 6-4
Quarterfinal Round
Angela Haynes, USA and Natalie Grandin, RSA
defeated by
Alisa Kleybanova, RUS and Ekaterina Makarova
3-6, 3-6
DOUBLES
Round 1
Ahsha Rolle, USA and Monica Niculescu, ROM
defeated
Maria Kondratieva, RUS and Sophie Lefevre, FRA
6-1, 7-5
Quarterfinal Round
Ahsha Rolle, USA and Monica Niculescu, ROU
defeated
Maria Elena Cumerin, ITA Ksenia Palkina, KGZ
w.o.
Semifinal Round
Ahsha Rolle, USA and Monica Niculescu, ROU
defeated by
Olga Govortsova, BLR and Tatiana Poutchek, BLR
1-6, 2-6
SINGLES
Round 1
Gael Monfils, FRA vs. BYE
Round 2
Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Sebastian Grosjean, FRA
6-1, 6-1
Quarterfinal Round
Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Janko Tipsarevic, SRB
6-1, 4-2, Ret'd
Semifinal Round
Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Richard Gasquet, FRA
6-4, 6-3
Final Round
Gael Monfils, FRA vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber
SINGLES
Round 1
Brittany Augustine, USA defeated by Ani Mijacika, CRO
6-4, 6-7(5), Ret'd
Shenay Perry, USA defeated Ming Yuan, CHN
6-0, 6-3
Mashona Washington, defeated by Lindsay Lee-Waters, USA
4-6, 6-2, 4-6
Round 2
Shenay Perry,USA defeated Olga Putchkova, RUS
7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(6)
Quarterfinal Round
Shenay Perry, USA defeated Frederica Piedade, POR
6-4, 5-7, 6-0
Semifinal Round
Shenay Perry, USA vs. Ani Mijacika, CRO
Eliminated during singles qualifying rounds:
Asia Muhammed, USA
Tiya Rolle, USA
DOUBLES
Round 1
Mashona Washington, USA and Riza Zalameda, USA
defeated
Varvara Lepchenko, USA and Coco Vandeweghe, USA
5-7, 6-4 [10-8]
Quarterfinal Round
Mashona Washington, USA and Riza Zalameda, USA
defeated
Brittany Augustine, USA and Ashley Weinhold, USA
6-7(4), 6-4 [10-7]
Semifinal Round
Mashona Washington, USA and Riza Zalameda, USA
defeated
Jorjelina Cravero, ARG and Frederica Piedade, POR
7-5, 4-6 [10-6]
Final Round
Mashona Washington, USA and Riza Zalameda, USA
vs.
Awaiting Opponent
SINGLES
Round 1
Nicholas Monroe, USA defeated Tyler Hochwalt,USA
6-0, 6-0
Marcus Fugate, USA defeated Tim Goransson, SWE
6-3, 6-4
Round 2
Nicholas Monroe defeated Erling Tveit, NOR
6-3, 6-3
Marcus Fugate defeated by Michael McClune, USA
2-6, 5-7
Quarterfinal Round
Nicholas Monroe, USA defeated by Blake Strode, USA
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Posted by Shelia at 3:55 AM Labels: Ahsha Rolle, Angela Haynes, Ani Mijacika, Blake Strode, Brittany Augustine, Frederica Piedade, Gael Monfils, Jorjelina Cravero, Marcus Fugate, Mashona Washington, Nicholas Monroe, Shenay Perry Email this post
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