MIDLAND, January 17, 2020 (Press Release)
The USTA announced that Jessica Pegula of Buffalo, New York headlines the initial player acceptance list for the Dow Tennis Classic, a $100,000 USTA Pro Circuit event, held at the Greater Midland Tennis Center, February 3-9, 2020.
The tournament is the third USTA Women’s Competitive Pathway event of the 2020 season and is the first of two women’s events scheduled to take place in Michigan this year.
Currently No. 64 in the world, Pegula is the highest-ranked of the 18 women who received direct acceptance into the 32 player main draw. 32 players will also compete in the qualifying tournament February 3-4, for additional berths. The local tournament organizers and the USTA will award wild card entries to complete the field.
In late 2019, the 25-year-old reached a career-high ranking of No. 55 in the world after defeating Camila Giorgi at the Citi Open, thus picking up the first WTA singles title of her career. Just last week she defeated CiCi Bellis, Tamara Zidansek, Alize Cornet and Caroline Wozniacki to reach the singles final of the ASB Classic in Auckand, New Zealand. The American would go on to be defeated by Serena Williams 6-3, 6-4.
She has competed in the main draw of the Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Off the court, Pegula started her own skincare line called Ready 24 in 2018.
Pegula also competes regularly in doubles and claimed her first WTA 125K doubles title at the Oracle Challenger Series – Houston in November 2018. She has reached the third round of Roland-Garros and the US Open and holds seven doubles titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour.
Joining Pegula in the main draw is 2019 Dow Tennis Classic singles champion Caty McNally; 2018 Dow Tennis Classic singles champion Madison Brengle; 2009 US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer; and 2016 Roland-Garros quarterfinalist Shelby Rogers.
Notable names expected to compete in qualifying include five-time Grand Slam doubles champion Sara Errani and former world No. 9 and two-time Grand Slam semifinalist CoCo Vandeweghe.
A full list of players expected to compete in the 2020 Dow Tennis Classic can be found at: bit.ly/2Nza2rt
Admission to day session matches (through Friday) at the Dow Tennis Classic are free. Tickets to the evening sessions, semifinals, and finals start at just $10 for juniors (age 6-18) and $15 for adults. Tickets are available by calling the Greater Midland Tennis Center at (989) 631-6151 or by visiting bit.ly/DTC20-Tickets.