POLISH STAR HERE: Dow Corning Tennis Classic Draws Highest Ranked Hitters
February 9, 2014
By: Dave Rogers
World ranked #64 Urzula Radwanska begins play in the Dow Corning Classic this week.
Midland is enhancing its reputation as the hottest stop on the women's tennis tour.
The $100,000 Dow Corning Tennis Classic, Feb. 9-16, will see 18 players with world rankings in the top 100.
Tops among the hot hitters will be #46, Urzula Radwanska, 23, of Poland, followed by last year's winner, Lauren Davis, who has risen to #59 in the world.
Radwanska, who is 5-10, is the sister of the sensational Agnieszka Radwanska, the No. 1 woman player in Poland, who in 2007 became the first Polish player to win a WTA Championship singles title. Agnieszka ended year 2008 as the first Polish woman to surpass US 1 million in career prize money, as well as the first to be ranked world no. 10.
Urzula began the 2013 French Open by upsetting the 30th-seeded Venus Williams, a seven-time major champion, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-4. But she lost her next match and thereby a chance to meet her sister on the court.
The 2011 and 2012 DCTC singles champions Lucie Hradecka and Olga Govortsova will be in contention at the Midland Community Tennis Center.
Thirty-two hungry players are vying today for four qualifier spots to enter the 32 player draw for the USTA Pro Circuit event.
The complete tourney schedule follows:
Sunday, Feb. 9
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Qualifying rounds begin, as 32 professionals battle for eight spots in the main draw. Admission is free for qualifying rounds.
Monday, Feb. 10
10 a.m.: Second round of qualifying matches begin. Admission is free.
Noon: Player press conference. The public can listen in as the media asks this year's players questions about their expectations for the tournament and year as a whole. A free lunch is provided for the first 100 guests.
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Tennis pros playing in the tournament visit schools in Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties, reaching more than 1,000 elementary- and middle school-aged students.
10 a.m.: Qualifying matches continue. Admission is free.
5:30-6:45 p.m.: Dinner catered by Horizons Conference Center kicks off the first night of feature matches.
7 p.m.: The first singles feature match of the tournament, sponsored by Dow Corning Corp.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Main draw matches continue. Admission is free until featured matches.
5:30-6:45 p.m.: Dinner catered by The H Hotel.
7 p.m.: Two featured matches -- singles and doubles -- sponsored by Dow Chemical Co.
Thursday, Feb. 13
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Main draw matches continue. Admission is free until featured matches.
5:30-6:45 p.m.: Dinner catered by Villa D'Alessandro and LaLonde's Market.
7 p.m.: Two featured matches -- singles and doubles -- sponsored by Meijer.
Friday, Feb. 14
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Main draw quarterfinals. Admission is free until featured matches.
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Cardio Tennis Clinic with Pros, sponsored by MidMichigan Health. Those in attendance can hone their tennis skills in a world-class workout with a pro from the tennis center. Those interested should call the tennis center at 989-631-6151.
11:30 a.m. to 1p.m.: Claws for a Cause lobster luncheon. Those in attendance can pay $20 and enjoy two lobster tails court side while watching the match.
5:30-6:45 p.m.: Dinner catered by Zehnder's of Frankenmuth.
7 p.m.: Two featured matches -- one singles, one doubles match.
Saturday, Feb. 15
11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Lunch sponsored by Bucks Run Golf Club.
Noon: Singles and doubles semifinal matches.
6 p.m.: Singles and doubles semifinal matches.
Sunday, Feb. 16
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.: Lunch sponsored by The H Hotel.
1 p.m.: Championship doubles match, with singles to follow. An award ceremony follows the matches.