ATLANTA – Playing eight matches over a four-day period against a field comprised of professional players, top-ranked collegians and high school standouts, University of Florida women's tennis junior
McCartney Kessler posted a record of 6-2 and notched a third-place finish in the Bringing Back Tennis Event held by Exo-Tennis at the Peachtree City Tennis Center just outside of Atlanta on May 26-29.
Kessler, who grew up in nearby Calhoun, Ga., put together a strong showing in the eight-player, round-robin tournament which donated a portion of its proceeds to institutions involved with fighting COVID-19.
The Exo-Tennis Series, the first group to bring back live tennis, hosted events in Germany and Atlanta earlier in the month of May with the culminating tournament occurring this past week.
The Gators' top singles and doubles player, Kessler, achieved tremendous success and posted a noteworthy victory over professional player Taylor Townsend, who is ranked No. 73 in the ITF world rankings. Taking on Townsend, who rose to as high as No. 61 in the rankings in 2018 and competed in the US Open this past fall, Kessler earned a gritty 1-6, 7-6 (3), 10-5 win.
Kessler also recorded a win over professional player Ellie Halbauer and victories against Katie Poluta, Lexy Pitt, McKenzie White and Kate Sharabura.
Kessler fell to Halbauer, who is ranked No. 305 in the world, in her first match of the tournament but avenged the loss with 6-3, 6-4 victory when the two squared off again in the third-place match.
Both of Kessler's losses came against professionals as she also dropped a three-set battle to No. 158 Sachia Vickery. Townsend, who has over 150 professional victories, went on to win the event as she dispatched fellow pro Vickery 6-2, 6-3 in the title bout.
Playing two matches per day over four days, at a point Kessler won five-straight contests and dropped just one set during the span. Both of Kessler's losses came in tiebreaks.
Exo-Tennis utilized video technology from PlaySight to provide full-service automated production broadcasts, minimizing the need for manpower and production crews.
Kessler and Pitt were announced as replacements for Carly Briggs and Katrina Jokic on May 25.
Quotes from the Court
McCartney Kessler
"It was awesome to be able to play some competitive matches again. I was able to play eight matches in four days all of which were competitive which made it really fun. I didn't really realize how much I missed playing matches until I got back out there which was a pretty good feeling."
RESULTS
Tuesday, May 26 – Rounds 1 & 2
Halbauer def. Kessler, 3-6, 6-4, 12-10
Kessler def. Poluta, 6-1, 7-5
Wednesday, May 27 – Rounds 3 & 4
Kessler def. Pitt, 6-0, 6-2
Kessler def. White, 6-3, 6-1
Thursday, May 28 – Rounds 5 & 6
Kessler def. Sharabura, 6-1, 6-0
Kessler def. Townsend, 1-6, 7-6 (3), 10-5
Friday, May 29 – Rounds 7 & 8
Vickery def. Kessler, 6-2, 5-7, 10-7
Kessler def. Halbauer, 6-3, 6-4
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