Whitney Laiho & Jessica Lehnhoff
Erin Burdette &
Megan Bradley (in background)
At The Open With Marcia Frost...
Friday, August 31st-Main Draw Day Five
University of Florida duo Whitney Laiho and Jessica Lehnhoff advanced another round today with an exciting three-setter against Emmanuelle Gagliardi and Meilen Tu.
It was not clear at all who was going to win this match. The service breaks and games went back and forth as fast as the serves and volleys. It was an excellent display of doubles by both teams, including a second set tie-breaker. The only thing that was clear all along was that Whitney and Jessica had the crowd support. They brought along their own Gator cheering squad.
The NCAA winners finally won the match, 6-3,7-6(3),6-3. Next up for them is a round of 16 challenge against either No. 7 seeds Martina Navratilova and Arantxa Sancez-Vicario or Tatiana Perebyiynis and Tatiana Poutchek. (They will play today.)
Megan Bradley and Erin Burdette were not so fortunate in their match. Though the first serve by Erin was an ace and she easily took that game 40-0, it was not a sign of things to come. The second-seeded team of Virginia Ruane Pascual and Paola Suarez won the match fairly quickly and easily.
Throughout the match the Girls' 18 Super Nationals winners had a few break points and superb volleying, but it was not enough as the seeds took it, 6-1,6-2. The duo will again play doubles in the Junior Championships. (I also had a chance to sit down and talk to Megan after the match and found out some more about this talented teen. Check out Talking With... Megan Bradley.)
Until Tomorrow...
