Sept. 24, 2017 Results
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Navy senior
Amanda Keller went 3-1 in singles matches this weekend at the 42nd edition of the Milwaukee Tennis Classic at the Town Club in Fox Point, Wisconsin. Keller dropped her opening match in the main draw, but went on to win three consolation matches.
"In a sense, Amanda's performance was a statement for our program, proving to some what we already knew, that we can play with anyone," said Navy head coach Keith Puryear. "I am proud of Amanda and her accomplishments this weekend."
Keller began play at the MTC against Syracuse's Miranda Ramirez in the Round of 32. Ramirez was seeded fourth at the tournament and is ranked 59th in the country. Ramirez defeated Keller, 6-0, 6-3.
Ramirez would go on to advance to the championship match of the Milwaukee Tennis Classic, where she fell to Miami (Fla.) senior Sinead Lohan, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Lohan is ranked eighth nationally and she was the top seed at the MTC.
Keller's weekend was not over after the Round of 32 defeat to Ramirez, as she went 3-0 in backdraw matches against players from Louisiana Monroe, Drake and Wisconsin.
Keller's first backdraw match was against Louisiana Monroe's Madalina Grigoriu. Navy's team captain posted a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Grigoriu.
The win advanced her to the next round of the consolation bracket, where she outlasted Drake's Summer Brills, 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-3).
Keller then defeated Wisconsin's Michelle Linden, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, in the consolation semifinal round. A consolation final match was not contested.
"Amanda started slowly in the first set of her first match against Ramirez," said Puryear. "She had some chances in the second set but couldn't convert. After the first match she played better and better, playing three solid matches in the backdraw to make the finals."
Keller is now 8-2 in singles matches this fall and 76-45 in her career.
Keller was the first Navy women's tennis player to compete at the illustrious Milwaukee Tennis Classic.
"This was an amazing event," said Puryear. "The support we received from the Navy community in Milwaukee was humbling. I would like to thank the members of the Town Club, who hosted the event, Chas Mulcahy, who was kind enough to extend the wild card entry to Navy, and to our host family, Mike and Beth Formella, and Beth's mother, Mrs. Meyers. They are a Navy family and Beth's dad, Jack Meyers, was a 1957 Naval Academy graduate. They took great care to make sure we felt at home."
The Navy women's tennis program will next host the Navy Blue & Gold Invitational from Oct. 6-8.
Milwaukee Tennis Classic ResultsRound of 32No. 59 Miranda Ramirez (Syracuse) def. Amanda Keller (Navy), 6-0, 6-3
Consolation MatchesAmanda Keller (Navy) def. Madalina Grigoriu (Louisiana Monroe), 7-5, 6-4Amanda Keller (Navy) def. Summer Brills (Drake), 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-3)Amanda Keller (Navy) def. Michelle Linden (Wisconsin), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
