Lepchenko & Vickery to play Rome Tennis Open
ROME TENNIS CENTER at Berry College – JAN 25 – JAN 31, 2021
USTA Pro Circuit 60K Event
There will be no shortage of top-150 players in Rome, Georgia as professional women’s tennis kicks off in the United States in Rome with Georgia’s Rome Tennis Open.
Georgia’s Rome Tennis Open will be the first USTA Pro Circuit event held in the U.S. for 2021. The women’s 60K event will be held Jan. 25-31 at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College. The Pro Circuit is the launching pad for many young players to a successful pro career and a way for seasoned pros to climb back up the rankings after inactivity or an injury.
“It’s an amazing player field,” stated Tournament Director Ann Hortman. “This being our first time to host the pro circuit, we are excited to have so many current and former top-150 players coming to Rome.”
Here is the 2021 main draw entry list: (Country, Player, Ranking)
1 BEL Greet Minnen 110
2 RUS Anna Kalinskaya 114
3 EGY Maiar Sherif Ahmed Abdelaziz 128
4 BLR Olga Govortsova 134
5 MEX Renata Zarazua 142
6 USA Francesca Di Lorenzo 143
7 SVK Kristina Kucova 147
8 GBR Harriet Dart 150
9 DEN Clara Tauson 152
10 USA Usue Maitane Arconada 154
11 SUI Leonie Kung 157
12 USA Sachia Vickery 158
13 USA Whitney Osuigwe 161
14 UKR Anhelina Kalinina 163
15 PAR Veronica Cepede Royg 175
16 NED Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove 176
17 IND Ankita Raina 180
18 USA Varvara Lepchenko 181
19 JPN Mayo Hibi 182
20 CHN Xiaodi You 185
Notes:
Five American players on the entry list.
Belgian Greet Minnen has been ranked as high as No. 104 and has won a WTA doubles title.
Olga Govortsova has been ranked as high as No. 35 and reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2015.
22-year old Anna Kalinskaya has been ranked as high as No. 96.
American, Varvara Lepchenko has been ranked as high No. 19 and is a former Australian Open semifinalist.
The women’s event will feature a 32-player singles qualifying draw, a 32-player singles main draw and a 16-team doubles draw with a field made up of well-known professional players as well as up-and-coming junior tennis stars.
In its debut year, Georgia’s Rome Tennis Open will feature many of the best women tennis players in the world. It is the third largest professional tournament in the state of Georgia in terms of prize money (ATP World Tour 250 event – Truist Atlanta Open in July, is the largest, Mercer Tennis Classic 80K Womens is second).
Many of the Rome players have had success in tennis’ four major tournaments.
We thank patrons for their support, but no spectators for the 2021 event.
“As the only women’s pro circuit event in the USA in January, we expect many of the top young players on the women’s tour to be in Rome,” stated Hortman.
The event will adhere to all government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions, including social-distancing, throughout the duration of the tournament.
Tournament volunteers are needed and any help is always appreciated. To volunteer: submit your request here: https://form.jotform.com/203556562528157. For more information, email tournament director, Ann Hortman at ahortman@romega.us.
About the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College
The Rome Tennis Center at Berry College is one of the world’s largest tennis facilities, with 63 courts, including the new addition of 6 indoor, climate-controlled courts. The award-winning facility was recognized in 2019 by the United States Tennis Association as an Outstanding Facility of the Year, and by Racquet Sports Industry Magazine as the Municipal Facility of the Year. The facility offers programming for juniors, adults and wheelchair tennis. Hosting is our heritage, and Rome Tennis Center at Berry College is home to the ITF Georgia Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament and the USTA Girls 14 National Championship. Other notable tournaments held at the facility include the ACC Men’s & Women’s Tennis Championships, USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis, USTA Southern Adult League Championships, USTA Southern Tennis on Campus Championships, the USTA Georgia Adult League Championships and numerous state, sectional and national junior and wheelchair tennis tournaments.
About the USTA Pro Circuit
The USTA Pro Circuit is the largest professional developmental tennis circuit in the world, with more than 100 events held annually, offering over $4 million in prize money. The USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. Since its inception in 1979, the Pro Circuit has been bringing the excitement of world-class professional tennis to dozens of local communities, while providing players the opportunity to gain professional ranking points. In 2019, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries competed in cities nationwide. Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard, John Isner, Madison Keys, Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, Sam Querrey and Caroline Wozniacki are among today’s top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit. Circuit alumni have accounted for more than 50 Grand Slam singles titles, and 17 Pro Circuit veterans have risen to No. 1 in the world.
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