Granville returns for chance at third title in Midland
When the USTA named Midland America’s Best Tennis Town and selected the Dow Corning Tennis Classic as the only $100,000 event the Tour, it wasn’t surprising to Mike Woody, tournament director, that the competition, February 7-14, would draw a stellar field.
MIDLAND -- Twelve of the first 24 players accepted in the main draw have been ranked in the world’s top 50, making the field one of the strongest in history, said Woody, executive director of tournament host Midland Community Tennis Center.
Additionally, 14 of the 24 are playing Fed Cup ties days before the start of the Dow Corning Tennis Classic.
Nicole Vaidisova, Czech Republic, former # 7 ranked player in the world continues her comeback at the tennis classic and the popular finalist from last year, Eleni Daniilidou, Greece, former # 14 in the world is back for more action.
“With so many good players, fans can expect a high caliber of tennis with competitive matches in both the qualifying and main rounds,” Woody said.
Lucie Hradecka, Czech Republic, returns to defend her singles championship. She defeated Israel’s Shahar Peer 6-4,6-1 on the clay in Fes Morocco for her best win in 2009. The winner of eight WTA doubles titles, Hradecka plays two hands on both forehand and backhand. She is currently ranked 64 in the world.
Among the four Brits in the draw is the Elena Baltacha, ranked 83 in the world with a career-best win over Kateryna Bondarenko, 6-2,7-5 in the third round of the 2010 Australian Open. Born in the Ukraine, her mother was a pentathlete and father a professional soccer player. She broke into the WTA top 100 in 2009.
Four-time Dow Corning Tennis Classic finalist and two-time winner Laura Granville, Chicago is in the hunt for title # 3.
Granville reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in both 2002 and 2007, and scored a career best win over world’s #4 Alicia Molik, 6-4,6-2 on the grass in England in 2005.
Injuring her wrist in the 2008 title match in Midland, Granville missed the next 13 months. She was an NCAA singles champion for Stanford University.
Also returning is fan favorite Eleni Daniilidou, Greece, finalist last year. Her all court game, appreciated by fans, has delivered victories over five former world # 1 players, including Monica Seles, Amelie Mauresmo, Jennifer Capriati (two), Dinara Safina (two), and Justine Henin (two). Winner of five WTA titles and a semi-finalist at nine other WTA events, the three-time Olympian hits a one-handed backhand.
Popular Nicole Vaidisova, 20, Czech Republic, played the tournament at 14, reaching the finals. On the comeback trail after a hiatus from tennis, she will battle from the qualifier. Vaidisova was a top 20 player for 240 consecutive weeks from October 2005 to June 2008, peaking at #7 in the world. She owns six WTA titles. She is also the youngest-ever champion on the USTA Pro Circuit.
Thirteen nations are represented in the Tournament with Midland debuts for nine players.
Nine Americans are entrants in the main draw, while five are teenagers and these include three junior grand slam champions.
