Jamie Hampton, a native of Auburn, AL, made her first appearance in a Futures final at the Baylor Medical Center Pro Tennis Classic on Sunday, fairing against the top-seeded American Alexa Glatch. The contest was held at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX.
Hampton sailed through the $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit event, knocking off fifth seed Salome Devidze and the unranked Helena Besovic. She met Nicole Leimbach in the semifinals, losing the first set 3-6, but rallying up a win in the remaining sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Top seeded Alexa Glatch finished the finals on top after defeating the 16-year old Hampton 6-4, 6-1 in the championship game.
The USTA organizes, sponsors, and administers the USTA Pro Circuit - the gateway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis professionals, and a frequent battleground for established players. The 2005-2006 circuit features nearly 100 events for men and women. Prize money at the USTA Pro Circuit events ranges from $10,000 to $75,000, with more than $3 million in purses this year. Players also earn valuable ATP and WTA tour ranking points. The USTA Pro Circuit boasts an alumni of some of the biggest names in tennis, many of whom have gone on to win Grand Slam titles, including Andre Agassi, Lindsay Davenport, Chanda Rubin, Tim Henman, James Blake, and Mary Pierce.