[TheBoiledEgg]

Abi lost again in 1st rd q
2-6 6-7 to Popadic

good luck in doubles, with Alina Jidkova

[TheBoiledEgg]

wow Abi had one of her best wins last week, i was away

beating Strycova in Memphis Q

this week Abi in final rd qual in 50k St Paul
q R1 d. Elie 76 61
q R2 d. Peterson 62 57 64

good luck today vs Ospina

go Abi

[TheBoiledEgg]

Abi qualified for maindraw

plays Vierin today
go Abi !!!!!!!!!!!

[TheBoiledEgg]

Abi won her 1st rd 62 61
great win

2nd rd vs top seed Kristina Brandi
good luck Abi

[BK4ever]

Good luck to Abi, hate when two of my faves have to play each other...Abi needs the points more...if Abi was more consistent off the ground....she would be solidly entrenched in the top 100

[TheBoiledEgg]

Abi took out Kristina, but through retirement

75 32 rtd
glad to see Abi getting the bonus pts
nice pts too, next is a QF vs Kloesel (a very winnable match)

good luck Abi

[TheBoiledEgg]

Abi won her 1/4 match 64 62
great win Abi

next is Semi vs #3 seed Lindsay Lee-Waters
good luck Abi tomorrow

Abi is now upto #178 and she'll go higher still

[BK4ever]

Very impressive win by Abi...she really seems to be putting it together...

[TheBoiledEgg]

Abi beat Lindsay Lee-Waters 64 63 in semis and makes final of $50k St Paul

great stuff Abi

WOW Abi

Abi now #168 and rising go girl go

go and win the title now ok
good luck vs Craybas

[TheBoiledEgg]

hope this is right

Abi took the title with a 63 64 win over Craybas

wow Abi
what a week and a great last few months

close to Top 150 now too

great stuff Abi about time too

[BK4ever]

Abi

I hope this gives Abi the confidence and drive to work hard on her game...

[TheBoiledEgg]

Abigail Spears: Circuit Player of the Week3/1/04 9:35 PM

http://picsrv.usta.com/fif=/usta/ust...0,0,0&cvt=jpeg
Abigail Spears
© John Gichigi/ Getty Images
Birthdate: July 12, 1981
Birthplace: San Diego
Residence: Valley Center, Calif.
Height: 5’ 9”
Weight: 165 lbs.
Plays: Right-handed; two handed backhand
Turned pro: October 2000 After winning three matches to qualify into the event, 22-year-old Abigail Spears of Valley Center, Calif., won the first USTA Challenger title of her career at the American Family Mortgage $50K, held Feb. 23-29 in St. Paul, Minn.

Spears, whose ranking jumped 41 spots to a career-high No. 157 with the victory, knocked off three seeded players en route to the championship, including No. 1 Kristina Brandi of Puerto Rico, 7-5, 3-2, ret., in the second round, No. 4 Lindsay Lee-Waters of Dunwoody, Ga., 6-4, 6-3, in the semifinals, and No. 2 Jill Craybas of Gainesville, Fla., 6-3, 6-4, in the final.

The title was the second of her career on the USTA Pro Circuit. Her first came at a $10,000 Satellite event in Edmond, Okla., in 2000.

In addition to winning her two USTA singles titles, Spears has also won five doubles titles on the USTA Pro Circuit. In 2003, she captured titles in Midland, Mich., and Jackson, Miss. In 2002, she won the championship in La Canada, Calif., and in 2001, she was victorious in Midlothian, Va., and Hattiesburg, Miss.

Spears also captured the first WTA title of her career last year in doubles at the ABC Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. Teaming with Teryn Ashley, the duo defeated top-10 doubles players Cara Black and Elena Likhovtseva, 6-2, 2-6, 6-0, in the final.


RANKING HISTORY
2003 – 225 (WTA)
2002 – 311 (WTA)
2001 – 262 (WTA)
2000 – 545 (WTA)

2004

• Won the singles title at the $50,000 event in St. Paul, Minn., as a qualifier… Defeated three seeded players en route to the championship, including No. 1 Kristina Brandi of Puerto Rico, 7-5, 3-2, ret., in the second round, No. 4 Lindsay Lee-Waters of Dunwoody, Ga., 6-4, 6-3, in the semifinals and No. 2 Jill Craybas of Gainesville, Fla., 6-3, 6-4, in the final.

2003

• Had success competing at a number of $25,000 Australian Circuit events in the fall… Results included winning the singles title in Mackay, Queensland, reaching semifinals in Port Pirie and Dalby and advancing to the quarterfinals in Rockhampton.
• Qualified into the Japan Open, before losing in the opening round to Emmanuelle Gagliardi, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
• Won the doubles title (with Teryn Ashley) at the $25,000 USTA event in Jackson, Miss.
• Qualified into the $50,000 USTA event in Mesa, Ariz…. Lost in the first round of the main draw to Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 6-2.
• Won the doubles title (with Teryn Ashley) at the $75,000 USTA event in Midland, Mich.
• Won her first Tour title in doubles at the ABC Classic in Auckland, New Zealand… Teamed with Teryn Ashley to defeat top-10 doubles players Cara Black and Elena Likhovtseva, 6-2, 2-6, 6-0, in the final.

2002

• As a qualifier, advanced to the second round of the $50,000 USTA event in Fresno, Calif., where she fell to Teryn Ashley, 7-5, 7-5.
• Qualified into the WTA Tour event in Waikoloa, Hawaii, before falling to Marissa Irvin, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the first round.
• Qualified into the $25,000 ITF event in Surbuton, Great Britain, but lost in the first round to Renata Kolbovic, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
• Won the doubles title (with Kim Grant) at the $25,000 USTA event in La Canada, Calif.

2001

• Qualified into the $50,000 USTA event in Hattiesburg, Miss., but fell to Eva Krejcova, 6-3, 6-3, in the first round.
• Advanced to the quarterfinals of the $50,000 USTA event in Fresno, Calif… Lost to Jana Nejedly, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
• Qualified into the WTA event in Quebec City, Canada, before losing in the first round to Adriana Serra Zanetti, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.
• Qualified into the $25,000 USTA event in College Park, Md., but lost in the first round to Svetlana Krivencheva, 6-4, 6-4…
• Defeated Jackie Trail in the third round of qualifying, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.
• Was a quarterfinalist at the $25,000 USTA event in Jackson, Miss., where she fell to Ashley Harkleroad, 6-4, 6-4.
• Reached the semifinals of the $25,000 USTA event in Allentown, Pa., losing to Irina Selyutina, 7-6 (5), 7-5.

2000

• Captured the first pro title of her career at the $10,000 Satellite event in Edmond, Okla.

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS

• Played for UCLA during the 1999-2000 season and accumulated an overall record of 28-11.
• Reached the NCAA quarterfinals before losing to Stanford.
• Named a Pac-10 honorable mention.

PERSONAL

• Father, C.L. Mother, Margo. Older sister, Ali.
• Began playing tennis at age eight.
• An all-court player, her best playing surface is grass, followed by hard court.
• Is sponsored by Head (racquet) and K-Swiss (clothing and shoes).
• Is coached by Vic Braden, Ray Ruffels and her father.
• Enjoys the beach and surfing in her spare time.
• Graduated from Escondido Charter High School in 1999.

[TheBoiledEgg]

Abi plays Orange $50k#
she got a wc

plays Mariana Diaz Oliva in r1
good luck Abi

[TheBoiledEgg]

Abi bt Diaz Oliva 61 62

next rd vs Teryn Ashley

good luck Abi

[TheBoiledEgg]

Abigail closing in on Top 150
beat her good friend and sometimes doubles partner, Teryn Ashley 75 16 62

go Abi
good luck in QF vs Severine Beltrame