Each year some of the top tennis players in the nation participate in Eric Butorac’s “Minnesota Tennis Challenge.” More than just another tournament, proceeds raised from this event (December 3rd) go directly to supporting three important organizations: St. Paul Urban Tennis, the Fred Wells Tennis and Education Center and the Rochester Boys and Girls Club. Together these charities are making a difference in the lives of youth ages 5-18 in the Twin Cities area and Rochester, MN.
Michael Russell
Michael was born in 1978 and beginning at age five he was coached by his father, who had been on a championship tennis player in college. He earned his first ATP points in 1997 and currently has a singles ranking of 99. “Iron Mike” is known as a determined competitor who plays defensively. His playing style has also been described as quick and clever. He is still coached by his father.
Jan-Michael Gambill
Jan-Michael Gambill is a Spokane, Wash., native who turned pro in 1995 and reached a career-high ranking of No. 14 in singles in 2001. Among the top players he has defeated are Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. Gambill is skilled at both singles and doubles (career high 23). He now resides in Colbert, Wash., and spends much of his free time helping wild cats at the Cat Tales Zoological Park.
Melanie Oudin
Georgia native Melanie Oudin first made national headlines when she defeated former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in the third round of the 2009 Wimbledon. The win was her first over a top-10 player and marked her debut in the top 100.
That fall, Melanie, as a wild card, knocked off Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova at the U.S. Open to become the youngest American tennis player to play in the quarterfinals there since Serena Williams in 1999. Melanie’s U.S. Open run ended with a quarterfinal loss to now-No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.
Melanie won her first Grand Slam title this fall when she and Jack Sock defeated No. 8 seeds Gisela Dulko and Eduardo Schwank for the U.S. Open mixed doubles title.
Irina Falconi
Irina Falconi is an up-and-coming WTA Tour player whose biggest win to date is an upset of No. 15-ranked Dominika Cibulkova at the 2011 U.S. Open. Falconi, a native of Ecuador, grew up in New York City and attended Georgia Tech for two years before turning pro.
Ashley Fisher
Doubles specialist Ashley Fisher was born in Australia. He started playing tennis at the age of five, began playing professional in 1998 and currently holds four career titles. In 2009 he was ranked number 19 in doubles.
