Player Spotlight:
Whitney Osuigwe
Whitney Osuigwe, a 17-year-old from Bradenton and the American leader for the women’s singles main-draw wild card into the 2019 Roland Garros, is scheduled to compete in the FineMark Women’s Pro Tennis Championship – the final event of the 2019 Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge – at Bonita Bay Club May 6 – 12.
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Osuigwe won the Boar’s Head Resort Women’s Open, a ITF World Tennis Tour W80 event in Charlottesville last week by defeating Madison Brengle, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, to win her second career ITF title. This week, she is completing in the $100,000 Charleston SC Women’s Pro Tennis tournament.
The former No. 1 junior player in the world made her tour debut last spring, and she is now No. 139 in the WTA rankings. She earned a 2018 Australian Open wild card berth from the U.S. Tennis Association. She trains at the IMG Academy.
FineMark Women’s Pro Tennis Championship, is a week-long $100,000 Women’s USTA Pro Circuit Tournament, is the first event of its caliber in Florida.
About the 2019 Roland Garros
The USTA awards one women’s singles main-draw wild card into 2019 Roland Garros based on performance in specific ITF World Tennis Tour and WTA Tour events. The wild card is awarded to the American player who earns the highest total of cumulative WTA singles ranking points (both qualifying and main draw) at two of the following four events:
· Week of April 15: ITF World Tennis Tour W80 Dothan, AL
· Week of April 22: ITF World Tennis Tour W80 Charlottesville, Va./Istanbul WTA International
· Week of April 29: ITF World Tennis Tour W100 Charleston, S.C./ITF World Tennis Tour W60 Wiesbaden, Germany/Prague WTA International/Rabat WTA International
· Week of May 6: ITF World Tennis Tour W100 Bonita Springs, Fla./ITF World Tennis Tour W100 Cagnes-Sur-Mer, France/Madrid WTA Premier Mandatory
Bonita Springs Welcomes USTA Pro Circuit Women’s Tennis, Concludes Roland-Garros Wild Card Challenge
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Announcing our Wild Cards!
FineMark Women’s Pro Tennis Championship is so excited to announce Sara Kelly, Martina Frantova, and Courtney Vernon as our wild cards!
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Sara Kelly is receiving a wild card into the main draw. She was named a unanimous selection to the ASUN All-Freshman Team. She was also one of five Eagles to register double digit singles wins as she went 10-7 in dual matches and 16-11 overall in her first season. She is no stranger to ITF competitions and is ready to bring it her all.
Martina Frantova will be in both the qualifying rounds and the doubles. Frantova enters her first season as an assistant with FGCU in 2019. Prior to joining the coaching staff, Frantova was a two-time All-ACC selection at NC state (2016-2017). In her junior season (2016) with the Wolfpack, she defeated 11 nationally ranked players while playing the No. 1 singles and doubles positions throughout the season. She is a tough competitor, that we can’t wait to watch!
Courtney Vernon will be joining her assistant coach in the doubles. During her five-year tenure, Vernon has taken the FGCU Women’s Tennis program to new heights, having led the team to its first ASUN Regular Season Championship and winningest season in program history in 2016-17. She is an alumna of USF with lots of experience competing.
Dominique Levin, Assistant Director of Sports at Bonita Bay Club had the opportunity to sit down with Courtney Vernon to discuss the tournament.
Your No.2 singles player Sara, a Naples native, received a wild card into the singles main draw. What is her style of playing and how will she need to prepare to play against the Top 30 to 60 female players in the world?
Sara is a lefty with a big game and a big forehand. She is strong moving forward and controlling points. Sara is an extremely hard worker so she will continue to be working in preparation for the tournament. We are in the middle of our season, so the wonderful thing is that she is getting a lot of matches, which is great preparation!
You and your assistant Martina received a wild card for the women’s doubles main draw. How excited are you to compete on the professional stage?
It is a very exciting opportunity, and we cannot wait to play! We are very honored to be part of this event. Martina received a wild card for the women’s qualifying event. She has played professionally before and has every shot in her repertoire, including a beautiful serve.
What will it take for her to do well in this event?
Martina is a competitor at an extremely high level. I believe she has potential to do very well in the event! I know she is training hard.
In general, what does it mean to you and the FGCU family to have a USTA Pro Circuit Event so close to home?
It is a phenomenal opportunity! It is right in our back yard and to have this kind of publicity for tennis and FGCU is absolutely priceless!
If you had one wish that could come true what would it be?
I think we have been granted that wish already! To have the opportunity to play in front of our Bonita Bay family and friends! It is going to be loads of fun and we cannot wait until May!