Teenage stars clash

By ROCKY STANLEY — The Independent

ASHLAND September 27, 2007 10:04 am

— Two of the country’s rising teenage tennis stars met Wednesday at the Ashland Tennis Center.
Advantage Kim Couts.
The 18-year-old from New Jersey finished with a flourish to beat Alison Riske of McMurray, Pa., 7-5, 6-1 in a first-round match of the $50,000 Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Tennis Classic.
The match swung abruptly in the first set, when Couts saved three consecutive set points on Riske’s serve while trailing 5-4.
“I was just trying to stay in the moment,’’ Couts said. “In that situation, you just keep trying. She (Riske) missed a couple of shots and I got it back to deuce. From there, it’s anybody’s game.’’
Riske, 17, saved a game point but then failed to convert on her fourth set point opportunity. From there, Couts seized the momentum and ran with it.
She reeled off nine of the last 10 games.
“Things were a little easier after that first set,’’ Couts said. “I was able to relax a little bit. For her, it was not as easy to recover.’’
It marked the fourth singles match in as many unseasonably hot days for the two players, who advanced through the qualifier with three wins apiece
“I feel pretty good physically,’’ Couts said. “I’ve really picked up my fitness. Obviously, it’s very hot out.’’
Couts, who trained in Florida for six years, has a strong serve and seems to throw all of her energy into every shot.
“I play very aggressive,’’ she said. “I kind of wear my emotions on my sleeve a little.’’
Her junior career included No. 1 national rankings in the 12s and 16s. More recently, Couts advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open Juniors this year and has begun to test the waters of professional tennis.
“So far, this year has been a great experience,’’ she said. “You’ve just got to remember that it’s a learning experience, even when you’re getting your butt kicked sometimes.’’
So far, so good in Ashland for Couts. Today, she is scheduled to go up against third-seeded Melinda Czink of Hungary.
Riske, a finalist in the Girls 18s national championship last summer, had wins this week over Stephanie Roy, Jamie Hampton and Janette Bejlkova in the qualifier. Riske’s older sister, Sarah, played at Vanderbilt University with Ashland’s Julie Ditty.
Two other U.S. teens — Alexa Glatch and Melanie Oudin — bowed out in first-round matches Wednesday.
Glatch, who turned 18 two weeks ago, lost to Jelena Pandzic of Croatia 6-3, 6-0. Last week, Pandzic knocked off top-seeded Stephanie Dubois 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round of a $75,000 tournament in Albuquerque, N.M.
Also Wednesday, Ekaterina Shulaeva defeated Melanie Oudin of Marietta, Ga., 6-4, 6-3 only three days after Oudin’s 16th birthday.
“I thought I played pretty well,’’ said Oudin, the youngest player in the draw. “She was very solid. That’s what I have to get used to. Pros are not going to give you anything for free. You have to beat them. They are not going to just lose.’’
Oudin won two matches in the qualifier before falling to Couts 6-4, 6-4. Oudin was coming off a winning performance in an international junior tournament in Lexington.
Dubois, the No. 1 seed, advanced Wednesday along with three other seeded players — Czink, No. 2 Rosana De Los Rios, No. 4 Maret Ani, No. 5 Sandra Kloesel and No. 6 Varvara Lepchenko.
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.

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