Julie Ditty
Ditty at a $75k event in Albuquerque (2008) | |
| Country (sports) | United States |
|---|---|
| Born | January 4, 1979 Atlanta, Georgia |
| Died | August 31, 2021 (aged 42) Ashland, Kentucky |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Turned pro | 2002 |
| Retired | 2012 |
| Plays | Left-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $493,612 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 294–231 |
| Career titles | 9 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 89 (March 24, 2008) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2008) |
| French Open | 1R (2008) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2008) |
| US Open | Q3 (2007) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 296–168 |
| Career titles | 30 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 66 (August 3, 2009) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2009) |
| French Open | 2R (2009) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2009) |
| US Open | 3R (2008) |
Julie Ditty Qualls (January 4, 1979 – August 31, 2021) was an American professional tennis player.
She had her WTA Tour breakthrough when she reached the semifinals of the Bell Challenge. It took her into the top 100 for the first time in her career, on November 5, 2007, at No. 91. She beat Alizé Cornet and Vania King before falling to Julia Vakulenko in three sets. In 2007, she was drafted by the Boston Lobsters of the WTT pro league.
Career
2008
In 2008, Ditty qualified for the Open Gaz de France tournament in Paris where she lost to the No. 6 seed and former world No. 1, Amélie Mauresmo. During the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp, she made it through the first round by defeating Alona Bondarenko, who was seeded eighth, and got to the second round there before falling to qualifier Timea Bacsinszky 5–7, 4–6, after having leads in both sets. Her win over world No. 22, Alona Bondarenko, was best-ever career win. In August, Julie defeated Yuan Meng in the first round at Cincinnati, marking her first win in a WTA Tour main-draw since Antwerp.
2009
Ditty was named to the United States Fed Cup team for their match in February against Argentina, after Bethanie Mattek withdrew with an injury; she played doubles with Liezel Huber. They would win the decisive match for the U.S. team, 6–2, 6–3.[1]
Following Fed Cup, Julie lost in the opening round in Midland and in Memphis. She did not play in March.
In April, she won her opening main-draw match in Charleston, South Carolina, defeating Ayumi Morita 6–1, 6–1. This would mark her first tour-level win for the year. In her next tournament, a $75k at Dothan, Alabama, Julie retired in her opening round against Yan Zi. In doubles, she partnered with Carly Gullickson to extend her record of USTA ITF titles to 35 as they would win the doubles title.
In May, she entered the singles qualifying draws in Rome, Madrid, Strasbourg, and the French Open, failing to qualify in all four. In Rome, she partnered with Jill Craybas to win their opening round before falling in the second.
2010
Ditty appeared in the Family Circle Cup, Miami Open, and in Wimbledon. She won her first qualifying match against Margalita Chakhnashvili, 6–4, 6–3. She then went on to defeat Jelena Dokić, 5–7, 7–5, 6–2 to reach the final round of qualifying where she lost a place in the main draw to compatriot Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
2014
In June 2014, Ditty emerged from retirement and led Team Kentucky to a decisive win in the Southern Senior Cup Women's 35 and over division. She followed this up by winning the US Open National Playoff tournament for the Southern section.[2]
ITF Circuit finals
| $100,000 tournaments |
| $75,000 tournaments |
| $50,000 tournaments |
| $25,000 tournaments |
| $10,000 tournaments |
Singles: 14 (9 titles, 5 runner-ups)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | June 24, 2001 | ITF Easton, US | Hard | Jeon Mi-ra | 4–6, 6–7(4–7) |
| Win | 1. | July 8, 2001 | ITF Waco, US | Hard | Jahnavi Parekh | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 2. | September 29, 2002 | ITF Raleigh, US | Clay | Neyssa Etienne | 7–5, 3–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 3. | October 6, 2002 | ITF Winter Park, US | Clay | Vladimíra Uhlířová | 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 4. | June 4, 2006 | ITF Houston, US | Hard (i) | Petra Rampre | 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 |
| Win | 5. | June 11, 2006 | ITF Hilton Head, US | Hard | Madison Brengle | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 2. | November 19, 2006 | ITF Lawrenceville, US | Hard | Stéphanie Dubois | 3–6, 6–7(6–8) |
| Win | 6. | February 4, 2007 | ITF Palm Desert, US | Hard | Angelique Kerber | 6–1, 6–0 |
| Win | 7. | April 29, 2007 | ITF Sea Island, US | Clay | Anda Perianu | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 8. | October 21, 2007 | ITF Lawrenceville, US | Hard | Angela Haynes | 7–6(8–6), 6–4 |
| Win | 9. | September 21, 2008 | ITF Albuquerque, US | Hard | Rossana de los Ríos | 6–4, 7–6(7–3) |
| Loss | 3. | October 19, 2008 | ITF Lawrenceville, US | Hard | Shenay Perry | 1–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 4. | November 9, 2008 | ITF Auburn, US | Hard | Edina Gallovits | 0–6, 7–6(9–7), 5–7 |
| Loss | 5. | November 16, 2008 | ITF San Diego, US | Hard | Edina Gallovits | 6–4, 3–6, 2–6 |
Doubles: 52 (30 titles, 22 runner-ups)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | August 8, 1999 | ITF Harrisonburg, United States | Hard | Wang I-ting | Amanda Augustus Amy Jensen |
7–5, 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1. | July 1, 2001 | ITF Edmond, United States | Hard | Michelle Dasso | Ilke Gers Tracey O'Connor |
6–4, 7–5 |
| Loss | 2. | August 5, 2001 | Lexington Challenger, United States | Hard | Milagros Sequera | Lisa McShea Nana Miyagi |
0–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 3. | July 7, 2002 | ITF Waco, United States | Hard | Michelle Dasso | Marina Bernshtein Neyssa Etienne |
4–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
| Loss | 4. | September 22, 2002 | ITF Greenville, United States | Clay | Michelle Dasso | Jennifer Radman Brooke Skeen |
6–4, 5–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 2. | September 29, 2002 | ITF Raleigh, United States | Clay | Michelle Dasso | Erica Krauth Vanesa Krauth |
7–6(4), 6–3 |
| Win | 3. | October 6, 2002 | ITF Winter Park, United States | Clay | Michelle Dasso | Marilyn Baker Ioana Plesu |
6–2, 6–1 |
| Loss | 5. | April 27, 2003 | Dothan Classic, United States | Clay | Varvara Lepchenko | Milagros Sequera Christina Wheeler |
7–5, 1–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 6. | May 18, 2003 | ITF Charlottesville, U.S. | Clay | Christina Wheeler | Bethanie Mattek Lilia Osterloh |
5–7, 1–6 |
| Win | 4. | June 29, 2003 | ITF Edmond, United States | Hard | Kelly McCain | Angela Haynes Jacqueline Trail |
6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 5. | August 3, 2003 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | Lisa McShea | Teryn Ashley Shenay Perry |
7–6(4), 6–7(5), 6–3 |
| Loss | 7. | January 25, 2004 | ITF Boca Raton, United States | Hard | Allison Bradshaw | Peng Shuai Xie Yanze |
1–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 6. | February 1, 2004 | ITF Boca Raton, United States | Hard | Allison Bradshaw | Natallia Dziamidzenka Sania Mirza |
6–3, 6–1 |
| Loss | 8. | April 4, 2004 | ITF Augusta, United States | Hard | Jessica Lehnhoff | Francesca Lubiani Mashona Washington |
1–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 9. | July 25, 2004 | ITF Schenectady, United States | Hard | Ansley Cargill | Casey Dellacqua Nicole Sewell |
6–3, 6–7(2), 2–6 |
| Win | 7. | August 8, 2004 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | Edina Gallovits | Claire Curran Natalie Grandin |
1–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 8. | October 10, 2004 | ITF Lafayette, United States | Clay | Kristen Schlukebir | Natalie Grandin Arpi Kojian |
6–2, 7–5 |
| Win | 9. | January 16, 2005 | ITF Tampa, United States | Hard | Vladimíra Uhlířová | Cory Ann Avants Kristen Schlukebir |
6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 10. | January 23, 2005 | ITF Miami, United States | Hard | Vladimíra Uhlířová | Mélanie Marois Sarah Riske |
6–3, 2–6, 7–6(3) |
| Win | 11. | February 6, 2005 | ITF Rockford, United States | Hard (i) | Vladimíra Uhlířová | Joana Cortez Svetlana Krivencheva |
3–6, 7–5, 7–5 |
| Loss | 10. | April 24, 2005 | Dothan Classic, United States | Clay | Vladimíra Uhlířová | Carly Gullickson Galina Voskoboeva |
6–4, 1–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 12. | June 12, 2005 | ITF Allentown, United States | Hard | Ansley Cargill | Cory Ann Avants Kristen Schlukebir |
6–2- 6–3 |
| Loss | 11. | July 17, 2005 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | Teryn Ashley | Natallia Dziamidzenka Anda Perianu |
5–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
| Win | 13. | September 26, 2005 | ITF Albuquerque, United States | Hard | Milagros Sequera | Romana Tedjakusuma Napaporn Tongsalee |
6–3, 6–7(6), 7–6(2) |
| Win | 14. | October 9, 2005 | ITF Troy, United States | Hard | Milagros Sequera | Salome Devidze Mandy Minella |
6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 12. | January 29, 2006 | ITF Waikoloa, United States | Hard | Lilia Osterloh | Chan Chin-wei Marie-Ève Pelletier |
5–7, 6–4, 2–6 |
| Win | 15. | February 24, 2006 | ITF St. Paul, United States | Hard (i) | Milagros Sequera | Eva Hrdinová Michaela Paštiková |
4–6, 7–6(5), 6–2 |
| Loss | 13. | June 11, 2006 | ITF Hilton Head, United States | Hard | Ansley Cargill | Christina Fusano Raquel Kops-Jones |
6–7(6), 4–6 |
| Loss | 14. | June 18, 2006 | ITF Allentown, United States | Hard | Ansley Cargill | Carly Gullickson Tetiana Luzhanska |
3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 16. | August 20, 2006 | Bronx Open, United States | Hard | Natalie Grandin | Lucie Hradecká Michaela Paštiková |
6–1, 7–6(2) |
| Win | 17. | September 24, 2006 | ITF Albuquerque, United States | Hard | Milagros Sequera | Christina Fusano Aleke Tsoubanos |
6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 18. | October 1, 2006 | ITF Ashland, United States | Hard | Milagros Sequera | Ashley Harkleroad Ágnes Szávay |
6–3, 5–7, 6–2 |
| Win | 19. | October 22, 2006 | Houston Challenger, United States | Hard | Tetiana Luzhanska | Laura Granville Carly Gullickson |
6–4, 4–6, 7–5 |
| Win | 20. | November 19, 2006 | ITF Lawrenceville, United States | Hard | Leanne Baker | Christina Fusano Aleke Tsoubanos |
7–6(5), 6–4 |
| Loss | 15. | January 27, 2007 | ITF Waikoloa, United States | Hard | Līga Dekmeijere | Natalie Grandin Raquel Kops-Jones |
0–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 21. | February 4, 2007 | ITF Palm Desert, United States | Hard | Edina Gallovits | Natalie Grandin Raquel Kops-Jones |
6–2, 6–1 |
| Win | 22. | March 25, 2007 | ITF Redding, United States | Hard | Chan Chin-wei | Jorgelina Cravero Hsieh Su-wei |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 16. | August 4, 2007 | ITF Washington, United States | Hard | Natalie Grandin | Jorgelina Cravero Betina Jozami |
6–1, 1–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 17. | August 18, 2007 | Bronx Open, United States | Hard | Raquel Kops-Jones | Lucie Hradecká Urszula Radwańska |
2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 18. | October 21, 2007 | ITF Lawrenceville, U.S. | Hard | Leanne Baker | Stéphanie Dubois Alisa Kleybanova |
2–6, 0–6 |
| Win | 23. | June 6, 2008 | Surbiton Trophy, England | Grass | Abigail Spears | Sarah Borwell Elizabeth Thomas |
7–6(2), 6–2 |
| Win | 24. | September 21, 2008 | ITF Albuquerque, U.S. | Hard | Carly Gullickson | Jorgelina Cravero Betina Jozami |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 19. | September 28, 2008 | ITF Ashland, United States | Hard | Carly Gullickson | Līga Dekmeijere Jelena Pandžić |
3–6, 6–3, [8–10] |
| Win | 25. | October 19, 2008 | ITF Lawrenceville, United States | Hard | Carly Gullickson | Yayuk Basuki Romana Tedjakusuma |
3–6, 6–4, [12–10] |
| Win | 26. | April 26, 2009 | Dothan Classic, United States | Hard | Carly Gullickson | Ekaterina Bychkova Alexandra Panova |
2–6, 6–1, [10–6] |
| Win | 27. | May 2, 2010 | ITF Charlottesville, U.S. | Clay | Carly Gullickson | Alexandra Mueller Ahsha Rolle |
6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 20. | May 9, 2010 | ITF Indian Harbour Beach, U.S. | Clay | Carly Gullickson | Christina Fusano Courtney Nagle |
3–6, 6–7(4) |
| Win | 28. | October 9, 2010 | ITF Kansas City, U.S. | Hard | Abigail Spears | Lauren Albanese Irina Falconi |
6–2, 4–6, [10–3] |
| Loss | 21. | November 6, 2010 | ITF Grapevine, U.S. | Hard | Chanelle Scheepers | Ahsha Rolle Mashona Washington |
7–5, 2–6, [9–11] |
| Win | 29. | February 5, 2011 | ITF Rancho Santa Fe, U.S. | Hard | Mervana Jugić-Salkić | Shuko Aoyama Remi Tezuka |
6–0, 6–2 |
| Win | 30. | March 5, 2011 | ITF Hammond, U.S. | Hard | Christina Fusano | Mervana Jugić-Salkić Melanie South |
6–3, 6–3 |
| Loss | 22. | April 30, 2011 | ITF Charlottesville, U.S. | Clay | Carly Gullickson | Sharon Fichman Marie-Ève Pelletier |
4–6, 3–6 |
Personal life
Ditty is the aunt to Gavin Lochow, an FCS Central freshman All-American wide receiver for the Dayton Flyers[3]
Death
Julie Ditty died on August 31, 2021, at the age of 42 after battling breast cancer.[4]
References
- ^ Mattek Out, Ditty in on US Fed Cup Squad SI.com, February 2, 2009
- ^ [1] USONP Southern section
- ^ "Gavin Lochow Player Profile". Dayton Flyers. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ "Serious Illness Finally Becomes Tennis Star Julie Ditty's Cause of Death". US day News. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2021.