USIC Player Highlights
Thursday, February 06, 2014
USIC Player Highlights
Lauren Davis Competing on Day 5 of the Australian Open (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Lauren Davis Represents USA in Fed Cup
Makes Debut in Hometown Cleveland
Gene Scott Scholar Lauren Davis cracked the world top 60 rankings this week at No. 59 and will make her Fed Cup debut in her hometown of Cleveland, OH when the USA faces Italy for the fourth time in six years on Saturday, February 8.
The Fed Cup tie includes four USA players competing over two days. Teammates are Madison Keyes, Christina McHale, and Alison Riske representing a dynamic young team.
Davis and Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez both reside in Cleveland assuring an extra-partisan crowd. In addition, Davis' ardent USIC supporters Frances and David Dickenson and Bob Kain also hail from Cleveland.
Davis has risen dramatically in the world rankings most recently reaching the third round of the Australian Open.
The 20-year-old continues to train at the Evert Academy that she attended as a junior player through the support of a USIC Scott Scholarship.
All matches will be broadcast live on the Tennis Channel.
The Gene Scott Scholarship Fund remains a USIC priority. Donations can be made online or by calling Sports+Plus at 301-229-5401. Support the next Lauren Davis by making a contribution today.
Eric Butorac and teammate Raven Klaasen pose with the runner up trophy at the Australian Open (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
IC Member Eric Butorac Reaches Australian Open Doubles Finals
It was a happy New Year for Eric Butorac who reached the finals of the 2014 Australian Open in Melbourne for his first appearance in a Grand Slam final after a decade on the tour.
En route to the finals with South African partner Raven Klaasen, the duo defeated the world No. 1-ranked team of Bob and Mike Bryan and fellow USIC member Treat Huey and partner Dominic Inglot in the quarterfinals. (Butorac and Huey were partners in the IC Avory Cup matches.)
Butorac has enjoyed tremendous success as a left-handed doubles specialist earning 14 ATP championships-including winning titles twice each at the Regions Morgan Keegan in Memphis, Los Angeles Open, and the Estoril Open in Portugal.
Butorac's victories have literally spanned the globe. He has also won ATP tournaments in Bangkok, Chennai, Stockholm, Tokyo, Nottingham, Sao Paolo and Nice, not to mention being the runner-up in Bangkok, Brisbane, Los Angeles, Munich, San Jose, and Valencia.
Let's raise a toast to Eric Butorac who epitomizes the IC's mission to promote friendship and tennis through competition with nations worldwide!