Updates from the Road!

Hey guys! Since I last wrote I have had many exciting things happen!  I ended up winning my US Open Regional Qualifying in Atlanta.  It was awesome to win the tournament and be one step closer to a qualifying wildcard into the US Open.  I played a talented up and coming junior in the finals.  I played really well and won 6-1, 6-2.  It was a great feeling to win the tournament, and my friends and family could come out to watch me since it was in Atlanta! So now I go to New Haven on August 18th to compete against the other 15 girls that won their regional tournaments.  The winner goes straight to the Open!

After the tournament I had a few days to rest and train till I started the 10k tournament that was in Atlanta at The Falls at Autry Mills.  I actually had never been there before but it was a BEAUTIFUL neighborhood.   The houses were so beautiful and the tournament facility was really nice.  You never know what you are going to get when you go play a 10k so its always a bonus when the facility is nice!  I won my first two matches to make it to the quarterfinals and then lost to Lauren Embree who plays for the University of Florida.  It was a tough match, and I seemed to just make too many errors at key moments in the match.  I was really disappointed, but had the semifinals of doubles that day with Alex Hirsch so I had to get over it quickly.  Alex and I won in a supertiebreaker to reach the finals of doubles.  We ended up losing the finals in a tough match (5-7 6-3, 8-10) but it was still a great tournament for us!  After Atlanta I took a week off to rest my body and train and then headed to St Joseph Missouri for a 10k.

I was originally scheduled to play a 50k in Lexington Kentucky the week after Atlanta, but changed my schedule because I felt like my body  needed a week off.  I had played in St Joseph Missouri before, and needless to say it is not my favorite city.  I wasn't too excited about going back there, but I knew it was a great opportunity to do well.  And it ended up turning out to be a great week for me...I WON the TITLE!  It was my first singles title of the year so I was really excited!! I won my first 3 matches fairly easily, and then had a very tough match in the semifinals.  I was down 3-6, 3-5  and came back to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.  In the finals I played really well and ended up winning 6-1, 6-0.  I have been in two other singles finals this year and was not able to win, so I was extra determined to win this one!  Since I made the finals I could not make my next tournament in Vancouver in time...but I guess its a good problem to have!  I leave Saturday for a 50k in the Bronx.  Wish me luck!

Summertime Tennis

Hello everyone!
Sorry it has been so long since my last post... I am going to try and start updating my blog much more often! Since I last wrote, I have reached a new career high singles and doubles ranking! I am 470 in singles and 453 in doubles.  I still have a long way to go, but I think it is important to enjoy the small accomplishments along the way :) I have many tournaments planned for this summer and am excited to see how I can do! Tomorrow I am playing in a US Open National Playoff tournament in Atlanta.  If I win this tournament I go and play against other regional winners to see if I can win a US Open Qualies Wildcard! I play at 8 am and if I win I play again at 1pm.  I was supposed to play mixed doubles in this tournament as well, but unfortunately my partner got sick and had to withdraw.  I am disappointed that I won't be in the mixed doubles draw, but now I can focus even more on singles.  After this tournament, I will be playing a 10k in Atlanta.  It is so nice to have back to back tournaments in Atlanta.  It makes a huge difference to be able to stay in my own home where I can sleep in my own bed and have home cooked meals.  It is also nice because my friends and family can come support me during my matches! I will keep everyone posted on the tournament! Hope everyone has a great 4th of July.

-Amanda

Charlotte

This week I am playing a 25k in Rock Hill, South Carolina, but I am staying with my good friend Meggie Stazak in Charlotte.  It has been alot of fun so far, and today I qualified for the main draw.  I played a girl from Columbia and won 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.  I started off really slow, but I was able to turn it around and get back into the match.  It felt really good to find a way to win without playing perfect tennis.  I play the first round of main draw tomorrow against a girl named Chichi Scholl.  I also am playing the first round of doubles tomorrow as well.  Charlotte has been really fun so far.  It has been really great to get to spend time with Meggie because I haven't been able to see her much since she has moved here.  On Saturday we went out to a cute restaurant in Charlotte called Nolan's Kitchen with some of her friends.  She also took me to an AWESOME diner/dive resturant called the Penguin on Sunday.  It was great! Sunday we went to a pumpkin patch and picked out some pumpkins to carve, but we haven't had a chance yet.  So far it has been a great trip and I hope that I keep winning so I can stay here longer.

On the Road Again...

Hello everybody!!

 I am currently sitting in my hotel room in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  It is Saturday night, and I am super bored.  I have been watching Lifetime movies all night trying to entertain myself. I got here yesterday from Redding.  The tournament in Redding turned out well.  I qualified for the main draw and then lost 2nd round.  I felt that even though I lost I learned alot from the match and know exactly what I need to work on to get to the next level.  I got 9 points towards my ranking so overall it was a really successful week for me.  After I lost, I had to figure out how I was going to get to Albuquerque.  Megan still had to play a doubles match the next day, so we couldn't travel there together.  I wanted to get to Albuquerque as soon as possible, because it is high altitude so it takes a while to get used to the conditions.  The balls really fly off of your racquet and you have to play with different balls!  I rented a car on Friday and drove 4 hours to San Jose.  I then flew to Phoenix and then from there to Albuquerque.  It was a reallyyyyy long travel day and I was exhausted by the end of it.  It definitely was not fun doing all that traveling by myself.  I landed in Albuquerque on Friday night around 9pm and took a taxi straight to the hotel.  Today I woke up and practiced twice to try and get used to the conditions.  Megan got in tonight, and we are sharing a room at the Courtyard Marriott.  I play first round qualies tomorrow at 10 am.  Albuquerque is a 75,000 tournament, and it is the highest level tournament  I have played so far.  I will write again soon! I really miss everyone at home! I am posting some pictures from the Sundial Bridge in Redding that I got to see in one of my last days in California.  Enjoy!

The SunDial Bridge...the walkway is all glass

Some Pictures from Redding

My room for the week!

The house next door...I thought it was so pretty!

Me on the evening news

Megan on the evening news

On our drive from Oakland to Redding....freaky

My First Blog Post!

So I have decided to start blogging since I am going to be traveling so much, and I want to keep everyone at home updated on my adventures! I hope everyone will bear with me through these first couple posts while I get the hang of it!  I am in California right now for a tennis tournament.  I am traveling with another player named Megan Falcon, who played at LSU.  We flew into Oakland on Saturday and stayed with some of Megan's family there.  When we woke up on Sunday we hung out for a little bit and watched some of the US Open.  Then we had a big breakfast, and it was time to hit the road again.  We went to get our rental car (which took wayyy too long).  Then we drove to Redding, California (where the tournament is being played) which took us about 4 hours.  I had to check in for the tournament and we got a short practice in.  We are staying with a really nice family here in Redding.  It can be nice to stay with people rather than always staying in a hotel; not only because it saves money, but because it makes you feel more at home.  It is very dry and hot here, but it is strange because I hardly sweat because there is no humidity.  I played my first round of qualifying on Sunday and won 6-1, 6-0.  Megan and I practiced again after my match.  The Redding news was there while we were practicing and we were on the evening news.  It was pretty funny!  We got home after a long day and were excited to watch the men's final of the US Open, but it was raining in New York so it was postponed to Monday night :(  I play my final round of qualies today so I am hoping for the best!  I am hoping to post pictures soon!

Also check this out... I thought it was soo funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94xyOpETYYs&feature=player_embedded#!