Academy Claims Calgary Double

Ana Veselinovic captured the singles title at the $10,000 ITF tournament in Calgary and then teamed up with fellow Monte-Carlo Tennis Academy star Anna Fitzpatrick to win the doubles final and complete a memorable week in Canada.

Just three weeks after winning singles and doubles titles in Prokuplje, Serbia on clay, Veselinovic claimed her third career ITF trophy with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-1 victory over Canada’s Sharon Fichman in Calgary.

The 19-year-old from Serbia then joined Fitzpatrick as the MCTA duo – known affectionately as “Yastog” and “Fat Bloke” – defeated top seeded Argentines Soledad Esperon and Agustina Lepore 6-4, 6-3 in the doubles final. It was the fifth doubles title of Veselinovic’s career and the second for Fitzpatrick.

“This has been a really good week for me,” said Ana. “I played some good tennis, even if it was on hard court, which just tells me that I can hurt lot of players on every surface. I'm also happy because I found it really simple in my mind to compete every match.”

The only set Veselinovic dropped all week came in her semifinal showdown against Fitzpatrick, but the left-handed Serb hit back to book her place in the final.

“Ana was absolutely 100 percent class,” said delighted coach Antony Hampson. “It just goes to show that when she just puts her head down and gets on with it, she can play some unbelievably exciting tennis. It’s great to win her first $10K on hard court as well, not to mention at altitude, and I hope it sends a message that her game can adapt on any surface under any conditions.”

MCTA Director of Coaching David Sammel said the victories for both players would serve them well in Vancouver next week as they continue their rise up the WTA rankings.

“Ana is finding the consistency necessary to break into the Top 300 and then make an assault on the Top 200,” said Sammel. “She has the talent and now mentally she is starting to understand the process.

“It is also good that the only person to beat Fitzpatrick is Ana so the MCTA is unbeaten this week. Our momentum is strong. Anna is backing up her Wimbledon exploits with some solid results with a semi in singles and a doubles title in Calgary. They will both hit career high rankings in singles and doubles again next week.”

Those thoughts were also echoed by MCTA Chairman Vin Hillsdon, who added: “The consistent and rapid progress with all our players in the short time since the launch of the MCTA proves the validity and strength of the MCTA concept, model and ethic. The results also prove the effectiveness, focus and application of our coaching and fitness team as well as the ability and uncompromising commitment of our rising stars.”

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