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Monday, October 16, 2006

King Wins First WTA Singles Title; Kecki, Clayton win ITF B1



Vania King has now done what many career tennis professionals fail to do--win a tour title. There have been many, many stories about her victory in Thailand the past two days, what with the general pessimism about women's tennis in the U.S., and the fact that she's the first 17-year-old from the U.S. to win a title since Serena Williams (although Serena's, the U.S. Open, was a bit more impressive than a Tier III in Bangkok with no Russians). But it's still a great result, and coming from a set down in the final against local favorite and former WTA Top Twenty player Tamarine Tanasugarn demonstrates serious mental fortitude. She and partner Jelena Kostanic also won the doubles, their second straight title in three consecutive finals' appearances.

This story about King's win features some interesting quotes, and I found this one particularly intriguing:

"I was never really a good junior player. Last year no one expected me to win a match, or to qualify [at the US Open, where she reached second round as qualifier].

"But you just can't let yourself be blown away by people who treat you badly," said the American, who hopes to be in the top 20 in the next two years.

King may not have been a great junior, but she was undeniably a very good one. She won two Grade 1s and reached the Orange Bowl quarterfinals in singles and her doubles record, which includes a runnerup finish with Alexa Glatch in last year's U.S. Open Juniors, was outstanding.

Who has treated her badly? That would be the second question I'd ask, if I run into her somewhere. The first? When did you know the WTA was a realistic goal and not the delusions of a mediocre junior?

Except for a couple of games of doubles at this year's US Open, when partner Amy Frazier couldn't make a serve or a return, I haven't seen King play since she made her move up the WTA rankings. I doubt even with this shot of confidence that she could dent players like Clijsters or Henin-Hardenne, both of whom annihilated her this summer. But as fast and as far as she's come in the past year, it would be foolish to think she's done improving at age 17.

Those of you wondering what happened in Tulsa, well, join the club. The ITF told me this morning they were chasing down results, that there had been computer "issues".
Here's what I do know, thanks to Faye in London:

Boys singles: Winner Mateusz Kecki and runner up Kellen Damico ( 7-5 / 6-3 )

Boys Doubles: Winners Kellen Damico & Johnny Hamui and runners up Jarmere Jenkins & Austin Krajicek (2-6 / 7-5 / 6-2 )

Girls singles: Winner Courtney Clayton and runner up Reka Zsilinszka (1-6 / 6 - 4 / 6 - 1)

Girls doubles: Winners Gabriela Paz & Reka Zsilinszka and runner up Madison Brengle & Kimberly Couts( 3-6 / 7-5 / 6-4 )


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Regarding the junior event, here are the quarterfinal and semifinal results in singles according to tulsaworld.com:

Boys quarterfinals:

Kellen Damico def. Drew Daniel 6-4, 6-4

Austin Krajicek def. Yoann Re 4-6, 6-2, 7-5

Mateusz Kecki def. Chase Buchanan 3-6, 6-2, 6-4

Ryan Lipman def. Johnny Hamui 7-5, 6-0

Boys Semifinals:

Kellen Damico def. Austin Krajicek 6-1, 6-1

Mateusz Kecki def. Ryan Lipman 6-1, 6-2

Girls quarterfinals:

Courtney Clayton def. Mallory Burdette 6-3, 6-1

Kristen Rafael def. Gabriela Paz 6-0, 6-0

Madison Brengle def. Chelsea Preeg 6-4, 6-0

Reka Zsilinszka def. Melanie Oudin 6-4, 6-1

Girls semifinals:

Courtnet Clayton def. Kristen Rafael 6-3, 1-6, 6-2

Reka Zsilinszka def. Madison Brengle 6-4, 4-6, 7-5

The Tennis Doctor said...

You can never knock winning at any level.

Often the difference between winning players and the others is that the winning players know how to close out matches.

So many average players put themselves in winning position and then fall apart.

Kudos to King.

By the way there's a free special report on the rackets and strings of the top male tennis pros at Download Free Report On The Rackets And Strings Of The Top Male Tennis Pros. and a Free download of a Tennis cartoon screensaver Download Free Tennis Cartoon Screensaver

Anonymous said...

hey colette, do u have any recent pics of kellen, as recent as the open maybe

Colette Lewis said...

I do. Please email me privately via the profile page, which can be found here--
http://www.blogger.com/profile/6191222

Anonymous said...

The reason there were no results from Tulsa is because Jerry Simmons has lost his mind. On the day it rained he had a match go on at 1.00am, it finally finished at 3.30am. Never been to a tournament as poorly run as Tulsa 06, real pity as it is an awesome facility.