Womack adds to Creason collection; Meades win

Staff report

LOUISVILLE June 12, 2009 12:27 am

— Ashland’s Kennedy Womack is living up to her lofty goal in the Joe Creason Kentucky State Qualifier.
Womack, the top seed in the junior tennis tournament’s Girls 14s division, won the championship Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 victory over No. 2 Gabrielle Gerlach of Louisville.
Womack, 14, already owns Creason singles titles in the 10s and 12s age groups.
“My goal has always been to win it in every age division. I only have two more to go,’’ she said of the 16s and 18s. “We’ll have to wait and see. That’s a long time away, but it would be cool.’’
Her performance led a strong showing by area players in the qualifier for the Southern Closed Championships.
Womack had to gather herself in the finals after being called for a code violation that gave Gerlach the deciding point in the second-set tiebreaker.
“I didn’t agree with it,’’ Womack said. “It actually was a big factor in the third set. I played better because of it.’’
Womack controlled the final set to close out the match.
“I played looser in the third set and was hitting my shots,’’ she said. “The first two sets I made some dumb mistakes and Gabrielle played probably the best she’s played against me.’’
Two hours later, Womack and Gerlach teamed up to win the 14s doubles crown.
Ashland brothers Rich and Max Meade also captured Creason doubles titles.
In the Boys 18s, Rich Meade and Louisville’s Robert Torsch defeated Alex Gornet of Louisville and Zack Lewis of Richmond 7-5, 6-3.
Alex Meade and Louisville’s Sebastian Bromley beat Daniel Chopovsky and Brandon Lancaster — both of Louisville — 6-3, 6-3 in the 12s final.
Two other area players — Louisa’s Nathan Martin (18s) and Ashland’s Chandler Nguyen (10s) — finished second in doubles in their respective age groups.
In Boys 10s singles, second-seeded Robert Krick of Ashland was runner-up to No. 1 George Akmon of Louisville 6-1, 6-0. Krick won two matches earlier.
Ashland’s Kelsey Hensley advanced to the consolation finals in the Girls 16s. Sydney Little of Ashland did likewise in the Girls 10s.