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Teen phenomenon Coco Gauff was one of many star tennis players who competed in the WTA Top Seed Open in Nicholasville last week.

Tennis legend Serena Williams serves during the WTA Top Seed Open in Nicholasville last week. She beat her sister, Venus Williams, before losing the Shelby Rogers, who advanced to the semifinals.

The doubles winners in the WTA Top Seed Open tennis tournament in Nicholasville, Hayley Carter of the U.S. and Luisa Stefani of Brazil, pose with their trophies. They beat Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic and Jil Teichmann of Switzereland 6-1, 7-5.

Jennifer Brady leaps for a return during the finals of the Top Seed Open in Nicholasville Sunday. She won the WTA singles title of the tournament, defeating Jil Teichmann.

American Jennifer Brady poses with her trophy after defeating Jil Teichmann for the singles championship in the Top Seed Open of the Women's Tennis Association in Nicholasville Sunday.

American Shelby Rogers, 27, returns a serve during the Top Seed Open WTA tournament in Nicholasville last week. In an upset, Rogers beat No. 1 seed and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Rogers Friday, the day after Rogers won over her sister Venus Williams in their 31st matchup. Rogers lost to Jil Teichmann of Switzerland in the semifinals, and American Jennifer Brady beat Teichmann Sunday to claim her first singles title.

The attention of women’s tennis enthusiasts around the world turned to Kentucky this past week as the Top Seed Tennis Club in Nicholasville hosted a major international competition. 

The Top Seed Open, presented by Bluegrass Orthopaedics, was the first Women’s Tennis Association event to take place in the U.S. since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the tour in March.

The tournament featured some of the sport’s biggest stars, including sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who faced off against each other for the 31st time (Serena won); Victoria Azarenka, the former No. 1 ranked player in the world; and 16-year-old Coco Gauff, the youngest player ranked in the WTA top 100.

American Jennifer Brady, 25, who led the UCLA Bruins to their third national championship in 2014, won her maiden WTA singles title, besting Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, 6-3, 6-4, after beating Gauff 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals. Brady never lost a set.

“It feels great,” Brady said when asked for her reaction during a Zoom press conference. “You know, there’s only one winner each week, so to walk away with that trophy … for the first title in America, I’m unbelievably happy.”

Brady said she always wanted to win a WTA title, and “everything I’ve imagined, it’s definitely a reality.”

Winners of the doubles title were Hayley Carter of the U.S. and Luisa Stefani of Brazil, who defeated Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic and Teichmann 6-1, 7-5.

The tournament, held Aug. 10-16 on hard courts at the indoor tennis facility in Brannon Crossing, aired on the Tennis Channel, which attracted its most viewers since the coronavirus outbreak began in the U.S. in March.

The tournament was held without spectators, and media access was limited, with player press conferences held by videoconferencing.

In a video on the Top Seed Tennis Club’s Facebook page, Jon Sanders, tournament director, and others described the health protocols that were in place to keep the players and others safe and at ease, including social distancing during training and practice, COVID-19 testing every time anyone entered the facility, requiring masks and having hand sanitizer everywhere.

The tennis club, which opened in March 2018, has 21 courts and has hosted junior tournaments, the PanAmerican championships, Division 3 indoor nationals and University of Kentucky tennis.

“We’re really excited to take the next step,” Sanders said, adding that he hopes “this turns into a long partnership with the WTA.”

“Our goal is to grow the game of tennis, and what better way to showcase tennis than to bring it to this state and to have the incredible star-studded field we have,” he said. “It’s an honor and a great responsibility as well.”

Ronda May, executive director of the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce, said it was a big deal that the tournament was held in Nicholasville, but the economic impact was minimal because there were no spectators. However, if Top Seed is fortunate enough to get the tournament again next year and spectators are allowed, the effect on the community could be huge, she said.

She mentioned that a new hotel in Brannon Crossing may be open by then.

There are also several restaurants and a movie theater there.

“Let’s cross our fingers and hoe that we get it again,” she said.

About Randy Patrick

Randy Patrick is a reporter for Bluegrass Newsmedia, which includes The Jessamine Journal. He may be reached at 859-759-0015 or by email at randy.patrick@bluegrassnewsmedia.com.

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