In only her seventh attempt on the ITF/USTA Pro Circuit, former University of Florida Gator, Alexis Gordon, beat the odds to claim her first professional title.

Alexis Gordon with Hantuchova & Paszek

Former University of Florida Gator tennis standout, Alexis Gordon, has something in common with WTA No.10-ranked Daniela Hantuchova and No.46-ranked Tamira Paszek. On the way to winning her first professional title, Gordon became the only other professional player to have beaten Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets in 2008.

Gordon Bests Winning Wickmayer

Prior to her loss to Gordon, Wickmayer, the No.3 seed at the Boyd Tinsley USTA Women's Pro Championships held in Charlottesville, Virginia this past weekend, had won 19 of her 25 professional matches in ‘08. Those victories include wins over a top-20 player, and several players in the top-100.

Gordon, a qualifier, beat Wickmayer 6-4, 6-2, after Wickmayer had beaten Amanda Stosur, the No.5 seed, 6-1, 7-5 in the quarters. To put things in perspective, Stosur has won at least one round in the singles main draw of each of the Grand Slam events on the WTA Tour, and last year reached the semifinal in doubles of the Australian, the French, and Wimbledon, and the round of 16 at the US Open.

Gordon Triumphs Against the Odds

With such a quality field, including multiple players in the draw who have been ranked as high as the top-20 in the world (Alexandra Stevenson, Brenda Schultz-McCarthy), a qualifier making it through the qualifying and main draws (eight matches total) to claim the title, is no mean feat. Making the feat more newsworthy is the fact that this qualifier is a twenty-five-year-old mother of a three-year-old, and is playing in just her seventh professional event since turning pro in January of ’08.

In the first round of qualifying Gordon faced Lindsay Lee-Waters, the No.3 seed in the qualifying draw, who has played in all four grand Slams and was ranked as high as 82 in the world as recently as 2004. After losing a tough tiebreak set, Gordon went up 2-1 and Lee-Waters retired. Her next two qualifying matches presented little problem, but Gordon faced serious obstacles in her quarter of the main draw.

Alexis' Main Draw Challenges

Top seed, Stephanie Dubois was ranked 104 coming into the tournament, and Alexandra Stevenson who has been ranked as high as 18 in the world in 2002, were both lurking in Gordon’s quarter. If she won her first match, Gordon would have to face the winner of Abigail Spears and Angela Haynes, both seasoned professionals.

Despite the steep odds, in round one, Gordon beat Tanja Ostertag, who is ranked more than 300 points ahead of her in the world rankings, in straight sets (6-3, 6-1). In round two she outlasted Spears, who had been a top-100 player in 2004, (6-1 6-7(8) 7-5).

In round three, Gordon faced up-and-coming Alexandra Podkolzina, who took out both Dubois and Stevenson. Podkolzina, apparently less than healthy, retired after losing the first set to Gordon 1-6. The win over Podkolzina propelled Gordon (the only unseeded player to reach the semis) into the semifinal match-up with Wickmayer, the aforementioned 18-year-old Fed Cupper from Belgium.

Gordon Takes Final from Puchkova

In the final, Gordon faced No.2 seed Olga Puchkova, who was ranked as high as No.38 in the world in 2006. Unfazed by seeding and world-rankings, Gordon “stayed the course” as her father and former coach Phil Gordon always counsels, and cruised to a straight-set (6-3, 6-3) victory over Puchkova.

Roxie Gordon: A Proud Mother

Alexis’ mother, Roxie Gordon, who cares for Imani when Alexis and boyfriend/coach Michael King travel without her, expressed her pride in Alexis’ accomplishment, but remained grounded. “Everything is a process,” she noted. She also gave voice to her spirituality which is shared by Alexis, adding, "Simply stated, if you give God first place in your life and live as he wants you to, He will give you an abundance in everything you do. Alexis’ tourney win happens to confirm this principle."

As tennis competitors and true fans know, winning one ITF event does not a career make. However, as she has shown from birth, Alexis Gordon is made of sturdy material, and with the continued support of family and friends, a top-50 berth is not out of the question by the end of 2009. Already players are beginning to take note of the powerful lefty whose pleasant smile contradicts the viciousness of her serve and forehand, and the nasty bite of her slice backhand.

Next Challenge for Alexis Gordon

Up next for Gordon is the $50k Mima Foundation/Usta Pro Tennis Classic in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, May 5 – 11. Again, Gordon will have to defy the odds, as her first round opponent, Soledad Esperon of Argentina, has won two of the last three events she has entered, and lost in the final of the other. The draw at Indian Harbour Beach appears to be even deeper than the draw in Charlottesville, so a title win there would really enhance Gordon’s Circuit stock. Stay tuned…