A milestone — 09/03/08

September 02, 2008 03:59 pm

— Congratulations to Julie Ditty, the 29-year-old professional tennis player from Ashland who had a glowing performance on one of the sport’s biggest stages last weekend.
Ditty and partner Carly Gullickson won two rounds in the U.S. Open Women’s Doubles division — the first Grand Slam victories for either player — before bowing out against top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-2, 6-2.
Ditty has played in the four Grand Slam events — the Australian Open, Wimbledon, the French Open and the U.S. Open — but has now experienced victory, and the confidence that comes with it, at that level.
Ditty’s successful career has been well chronicled locally, but the victories last weekend put her among the best in the world. Ditty and Gullickson are ranked near the top 100 in doubles and plan to stick together with a possible eye toward the Australian Open in January.
Ditty chose an education — she’s a graduate of Vanderbilt University — over jumping into professional tennis at a young age. It was a mature and wise decision given the fate of so many others who have tried to crack the professional ranks too soon. She’s a true role model for her sport and certainly for those in her hometown who should be busting their buttons over the latest accomplishment.
We wish her much continued success on the professional women’s circuit and in future Grand Slam events.