Jan. 13, 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - For the fifth straight year, Fordham women's tennis player Dominique Liguori competed at the USTA Women's Open Singles and Doubles tournament, held at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. from December 27-30th.

The Women's Open Singles draw was a 64-person draw, where Liguori, who finished as the runner-up three times in the last four years, was seeded sixth out of 15 seeded players. After a first round bye, Liguori topped Shelby Talcott of Sea Cliff, N.Y., 7-6 (10-8), 6-1 in the round of 32.

In the round of 16, Liguori took on Jocelyn Davis of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, winning the match, 6-3, 6-0. However, Liguori's singles run was cut short in the quarterfinals, to 4th-seeded, Jennifer Migan, 6-1, 7-5.

In addition to singles' play, Liguori also entered the Women's Open Doubles Championship with Alexandra McAtee from Scarsdale, N.Y. Liguori and McAtee were seeded 3rd in the doubles.

The duo started the tournament by defeating Dagmama Siara (Flushing, N.Y.) and Jacquelyn Visinski (Quinnipiac) 6-2, 6-3 in the first round (round of 16).

They then defeated Alison Adamski (St. John's Alumna) and Jill Markowitz (Rutgers '06 Alumna) 6-3, 6-0, in the quarterfinals, but would fall in the semifinals to Cynthia Dewi (Elmhurst, N.Y.) and Frederika Girsang (Jersey City, N.J.) 6-1, 2-6, 10-8 (played a tiebreaker for the third set).

In a small touch of irony, Liguori and McAtee would find themselves playing in the third place match against Katherine Hanson (Stony Brook) and former Fordham player Catherine Kellner, who now attends Marshall. Liguori and McAtee would win that match in three sets, 6-7(3), 6-3, and 10-7 (played tiebreaker for third set).

For the win, Liguori collected a bronze national ball for doubles, which joins her three silver national ball awards in singles play.