Riviera Hosts WAATC Next Week

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Local tennis fans should head over to the Riviera Country Club next week for the ITA Women’s All-American Tennis Championships, an event featuring over 100 of the top Division I players from more than 50 colleges and universities across the country.

Pre-qualifying begins Sunday, qualifying rounds are Tuesday and Wednesday and the 32-player singles and 16-team doubles main draws start next Thursday. The singles and doubles finals are scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 8. The event is free to the public.

No UCLA player had won the WAATC singles title until Robin Anderson did so last year when she defeated Bruins teammate Chanelle Van Nguyen in the championship match.

Anderson had reached the singles final and won the doubles title with teammate Jennifer Brady  in 2013.

The WAATC was started in 1983 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and has been played at the Riviera Tennis Club since 1988. The quality of play is comparable to the NCAA Championships.

“The Riviera All-American is the most prestigious event in all of college tennis,” USC women’s coach Richard Gallien said. “When you couple the strongest field at the finest venue it’s really impossible to beat. All of the players and coaches are indebted to the members for their unwavering support.”

The WAATC is a 501c (3) charity that promotes and supports Division I tennis players. Proceeds from the tournament will be donated to charities supporting tennis programs in LA County.

The WAATC is organized, funded and hosted by Riviera Tennis Club members, individual donors, and corporate sponsors. One of the unique aspects of the tournament is that players are housed by local residents, often forming friendships and connections that last a lifetime.

“The All-American” was one of my favorite tournaments in college,” said Jill Craybus, who won the WAATC singles title in 1995 while attending Florida and later played on the WTA Tour and for the United States Fed Cup team. “I think it’s a great opportunity for fans to come watch college players fight their hardest to get the title and possibly see future stars in the making!”

In last year’s doubles final, Clemson’s Beatrice Gumulya and Jessy Rompies outlasted Stanford’s Taylor Davidson and Carol Zhao 10-8 in a super tiebreaker.

“This tournament is special for several reasons,” Dr. Fred Ho, Chair of the Riviera Tennis Committee said. “It’s fully supported by Riviera members through cash contributions and donated auction items, the field is the deepest of any national women’s collegiate tennis event and it’s a preview for the NCAA season ahead.”