USTA Austrailian Open Wild Card Playoff Field Narrows for Shot Down Under

December 16, 2011 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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The Racquet Club of the South outside of Atlanta is once again the site for the USTA Austrailian Open Wildcard Playoff. Coco Vandeweghe, who reached the finals at this event last year was matched up with 15-year old Taylor Townsend. In the end, Vandeweghe’s experience paid off with a 6-4, 6-4 straight set victory.

Sixteen-year-old Madison Keys, who now plays out of Boca Raton, Fla. kept the crowd on the edge of their seats with a 3-6, 6-3, 9-7 win over the number three seeded Jamie Hampton of Alabama. Keys gained attention this summer by reaching the second round of the U.S. Open.

The unfortunate slide of Melanie Oudin continued as she was defeated Gail Brodsky in three tough sets. Oudin, playing at the racquet club she grew up at, in front of friends and family couldn’t hold serve when it mattered. Brodsky, a native of the Ukraine, but now living in New York earned a hard fought win, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Alison Riske, the top-ranked woman at this event, took care of junior player Grace Min 6-0, 6-0 in the other first round match.

The USTA has an agreement in place with Tennis Australia to exchange one men’s and one women’s wild card at their major championships. This playoff will determine those winners. Last year, Ryan Harrison and Lauren Davis were the wild card recipients from this event. Play continues through this Sunday.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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