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Grace Min competes at the 2010 Rock Hill Rocks Open.
© Tim Hartis
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Irina Falconi
© Jon Eilts
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Southern-based college players lose in finals
Eighth seed Camila Giorgi from Macerata, Italy, defeated sixth seed Irina Falconi, formerly of Georgia Tech, 6-3 6-4 Sunday to capture the singles championship of the second annual Rock Hill Rocks Open tennis tournament.
It was the third ITF Pro Circuit win for Giorgi, 18, whose family now lives in Miami. In 2009 she won a $25K event in Poland and a $50K event in Canada. She was a finalist in a $25K event in the Slovak Republic earlier this year.
Giorgi, who is ranked 261 in the world in women’s singles, said she gained confidence after a grueling first-round match in the Rock Hill tournament. She came from behind to win the first set in a tie-breaker, lost the second, and won the third in another tie-break.
In the final doubles match Sunday, which preceded the singles match, the team of Maria-Fernanda Alves of Brazil and Mariana Duque-Marino of Columbia defeated the team of Sanaz Marand and Caitlin Whoriskey, of the University of Tennessee, 6-1 4-6 10-4.
In earlier action
No. 13 seed Amanda McDowell, formerly of Georgia Tech, advanced with a victory over Yuliana Lizarazo, the eight-seed, in three sets.
Lawrenceville, Ga.'s Grace Min eliminated Alexa Glatch 6-0, 6-1 in the second round of the Rock Hill Rocks Open Thursday. Glatch is ranked No. 307 in the world and Min is No. 627.
On Tuesday Min defeated the third-seed Madison Brengle 6-4, 6-3. Brengle is ranked No. 194.
Background information
The 2nd annual $25,000 Rock Hill Rocks Open will be held Oct. 17-24, at the
Rock Hill Tennis Center, 897 Maplewood Lane, Rock Hill, SC. The tournament is a $25,000 USTA Women's Pro Circuit Event. It will feature ranked players from around the world playing for prize money and points. The public is welcome to watch this exciting tennis for free.
Southern players include Jamie Hampton, who continues her breakout year with three USTA Pro Circuit titles, and Lindsay Lee-Waters. Entered into qualifying as of Oct. 1 are Julie Ditty and Shelby Rogers.
Two events for area players held in conjunction with the RHRO are:
A Rockin' Junior Kickoff on Sat. Oct. 16 from 6-8 pm at the tennis center. Pros will help at this kickoff clinic. IIt's free to the first 50 juniors who sign up by calling the tennis center at 803-326-3841.
An adult RHRO Pro-Am on Sun. Oct. 17 from 6-8 pm at the tennis center. ros will play doubles round-robin with participants. Cost is $50 for participants. Sign up by calling the tennis center.