Austin Tennis Academy News

January 14, 2008

Saunders Returns to U.S. Top 100 Girls 16s, Winter Nationals and Copper Bowl Re-cap

I was excited to get out there and play. I was jumping around, ready to go. I know this is going to take time, but I think this [Beijing, CH] is the perfect place to begin playing singles again,” the wise words of Lindsay Davenport on her return to the WTA Tour following the June 2007 birth of her son, Jagger.

Following a short break from USTA competition, Jill Saunders posted a dominant tune-up performance at the Dallas Cotton Bowl SCMZ, then successfully stepped up to national level competition, competing in the USTA Winter Nationals and Copper Bowl events in Arizona. ATA Head Coach Jack Newman traveled with Saunders to both tournaments.

Competing first at the USTA Winter Nationals in Scottsdale, AZ, Jill faced off first against (28) seed and 64 nationally ranked Brittany Borsanyi. Jill put on a “serving clinic,” according to Coach Newman, and “out-hit Borsanyi with power from the baseline,” dominating to win 6-1, 6-0. The next match featured a more intricate style match-up for Saunders as she met cagey all-court player Stephanie Vlad. Coach Newman saw Vlad’s ability to get “Jill’s hard ground-strokes back in the court frustrate Jill,” to the tune of a 6-2, 6-4 win for Vlad. In her third match, Jill overcame nerves in the first set to defeat Amanda Halmstrom 7-5, 6-0. Then, Jill once again dueled with an effective counter-puncher in Anna Mamalat. Overcoming a 3-6 first set deficit, Coach Newman was impressed with Jill’s “very good strategic adjustments after dropping the first set,” effectively setting up points, then attacking with power and depth. Jill went on to win sets two and three 6-2, 6-1. In her next match, Jill met (27) seed and nationally ranked 63 Whitney Richie. Described as a very effective “lefty back-board” by Head Coach Newman, Jill dropped the first set 1-6, then focused to make more balls, winning the second set 7-5. Richie outlasted Saunders in the third frame, 6-3. Coach Newman stated: “the match was a good battle for Jill, a match she can win when she’s on her game.” The loss to Richie wrapped the Winter National event where Jill played her way back into the Top 100 U.S. Girls 16s, Singles.

Traveling from Scottsdale to Tucson, Copper Bowl action kicked off January 2nd at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort and Country Club. In her first match, Jill eliminated Tara Erb 6-3, 6-1. In her next match, Jill played Olga Fischer, winning a very close and physical first set 7-6(5). In the next two sets, Coach Newman saw Jill unable to match Fischer’s “physical style,” Jill frankly “ran out of gas,” a consequence of Winter Nationals and the lay-off from competition. The next day, Jill ran through Brenna Kelly, 6-0, 6-0, before falling in two close sets 6-4, 6-4 to Kelsie Craig, ending the Copper Bowl competition.

Any prolonged lay-off from competition requires commitment for a successful return. While Jill’s results from the Arizona tour put her back inside the Top 100 U.S. Girls 16s, Singles, the next few months may show a continued spike. As Lindsay Davenport climbs the WTA rankings over the net few months, Jill Saunders may do the same on the USTA junior circuit. Congratulations to Jill on a successful Arizona trip, the Austin Tennis Academy looks forward to more great results with Jill in the future.

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