NEW HAVEN, CT – It was a match which one might expect to see in the third round of the US Open on the Grandstand. Instead, it was played in the first round of the qualies at the CT. Open on Friday on the Grandstand. Samantha Stosur of Australia against Christina McHale of the United States.
It evidenced the strength of the field at the CT. Open and the power of Tournament Director Anne Worcester to draw players. Worcester served a stint as WTA head, starting at the tender age of 33. She was the first female to lead the governing body of any sport.
Stosur won 6-3,6-2, after a slow start. Her power serve came alive in the second set.
Stosur is in her 19th year as a pro and won the US Open in 2011 over Serena Williams. She is currently ranked no.65 in the world and is probably known more as a doubles, than singles specialist. She was once the top ranked doubles player in the world for 61 consecutive weeks.She has won over $17,000,000 in her career in prize money.
McHale was once No. 24 in the world and now sits at no. 90. She has made it to the third round of all the Majors and has earned victories over many of the top ten players in the world.She is a New Jersey native.
Stosur will play tomorrow for a spot in the main draw, which features world no. 1 Simone Halep and many of the top 20 players in the world, in the final tune-up before the US Open.
Many tickets remain for Saturday’s qualies and the entire Tournament, which features senior men like John McEnroe and James Blake.