By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@thecitizennews.com

The Peachtree City Tennis Center was abuzz about the women's tennis final as defending champion Alina Jidkova faced Sandra Cacic of Bradenton, Fla.

Cacic is returning to form after recovering from an injury. Jidkova had a taped-up wrist and had battled an upset stomach the past few days. Cacic took the first set 6-0, but Jidkova battled all day. In the fourth game of the first set, she led 40-0 only to lose the game.

The two girls went to deuce four times in the fifth game of the second set, with the set tied 2-2. Cacic won the game and Jidkova retired due to injury and illness in the sixth game. Cacic won the singles championship, earning $3,000. She will play in Mahwah Monday against Vanessa Webb.

The doubles match was between the two strongest pairs of the tournament; Dawn Buth and Lisa McShea, and Allison Bradshaw and Abigail Spears. Oddly, the tournament was the first time that Buth and McShea played together, while Bradshaw and Spears were old doubles partners reunited for the first time in a while.

Bradshaw and Spears won the first set 6-2. The set was tied 2-2 when Bradshaw and Spears broke it open and won the next four games in a row.

The rest of the match was a battle of the two teams' wills. Buth and McShea won the first two games of the second set, while Bradshaw and Spears won the second two games. The next four went to Buth and McShea and a third and decisive set was needed. Bradshaw and Spears started off strong, winning the first three games, but Buth and McShea won the next five. Bradshaw and Spears took the ninth game of the third set, but Buth and McShea were too strong and eventually won the match, 6-4.

The tournament, part of the USTA Prudential Securities Circuit, was very successful for the Peachtree City Tennis Center, the players and the fans. Each day brought great tennis action that continually improved with each day.

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