Action and Weather Both Hot at 10K Women's Circuit Event in Atlanta

JOHN'S CREEK, GA -  No courtesy cars, no complimentary hotel rooms and very little prize money. Such is life on the summer USTA Women's Pro Circuit, where players from all over the world are trying to win valuable WTA ranking points and enough money to stay afloat. Picture rookie league baseball.

There is no glitz and glamour for these players, especially for the 96 entrants trying to secure one of eight main draw spots in the $10K Norman Wilkerson Memorial Tournament held outside of Atlanta each July. The tournament is one of ten events this size held in the U.S. each year.

This is the first year this event is being held at the upscale Falls at Autrey Mill Tennis Center in John's Creek, GA. The irony of multi-million dollar homes surrounding tennis courts where players might not even make a penny for the week isn't lost on anyone including the players.

While two players were looking at some Kia SUV's parked at the entrance to the tennis complex, showcased because Kia is a presenting sponsor, one player asked the other, "I wonder if the winner of singles and doubles get a vehicle?" The second player just walked away.

Post-It notes on the tournament table have names of players looking for roommates for the week to share on expenses. Could you see a yellow scrap of paper saying Roger Federer needs a roommate for the week at the Western & Southern Open? Not going to happen.

While the temperatures and humidity greeting the players each day are downright brutal, the tournamant is very well run by USTA officials and local volunteers. Local businesses run the concessions and proceeds go to a local charity.  USTA umpires roam the eight courts that are used during qualifying play. 

Because it's a popular stop, this Atlanta events usually gets a fairly strong draw. Former Georgia Tech standout, Irina Falconi who is now hovering around #100 in the world won this event last year.

This year, 17-year-old Lauren Davis, who is the top-ranked player to enter the event. Davis won the USTA Pro Circuit event in Buffalo, N.Y., in June, and finished 2010 by winning six events in the last three months of the year, including three junior championships, two USTA Pro Circuit titles and a USTA playoff to earn a wild card into the main draw of the 2011 Australian Open.

Amanda McDowell, who won the 2008 NCAA singles title as a sophomore at Georgia Tech en route to Player of the Year honors is also in the draw along with 15-year-old Taylor Townsend, a native of Stockbridge, Ga., who trains full time at the USTA Training Center-Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., and who reached the semifinals of a USTA Pro Circuit $50,000 event in Carson, Calif., as a qualifier in May.

17-year-old Lauren Herring, who won her first professional title in 2010 at the USTA Pro Circuit $10,000 event in Amelia Island, Fla., and who will play collegiately for the University of Georgia this fall; 16-year-old Jan Abaza, who won the 2010 US Open National Playoffs Florida Sectional Qualifying Tournament, and who reached the quarterfinals earlier this year at the $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Hilton Head Island.

Other entrants this week include two American juniors who are both lefties and happen to be from the Atlanta area. 18-year old Caroline Price is the daughter of former NBA All-Star Mark Price will be heading to North Carolina after playing summer tournaments and Hannah King, a 16-year old who plays a lot like Wimbledon champ, Petra Kvitova.

Should be high drama in the scorching temperatures this week. Whoever wins will will not only have to beat the heat, but also a bunch of talented young tennis players looking to be the next big thing in professional tennis.