A Hometown Star Takes the Court: Zoe Hammond at the W100 in Edmond, OK

The 2025 Edmond Open W100 is welcoming an impressively cosmopolitan field: players from 15 different countries have gained entry via direct acceptance, wildcards, or qualifying. Among them are names such as Renata Zarazúa (Mexico), Petra Marčinko (Croatia), Marina Stakusic (Canada), Iryna Shymanovich (Belarus), and Louisa Chirico (USA). That global reach is one of the hallmarks of the ITF World Tennis Tour, and Edmond, Oklahoma is poised this week to host a microcosm of the international women’s circuit. Today’s Highlights — Qualifiers, First Round, Doubles Qualifying & First Round Singles Marina Stakusic (Canada) made a confident start in the first round, disposing of Anna Rogers (USA) in straight sets, 6–2, 6–2. Louisa Chirico (USA) advanced after a solid performance over Malaika Rapolu (USA). Hanna Chang (USA) faced Ayana Akli (USA) in another match — a tighter affair through the first set. Elsewhere, Cadence Brace (Canada) was scheduled against Zoe Hammond, with results pending at press time. On the qualifying front, several players earned their way into the main draw. These qualifiers bring additional international depth to the tournament, expanding the roster beyond the direct-acceptance entries. Doubles Action The doubles draw also saw international pairings clash. Teams such as M. Kozyreva / I. Shymanovich and K. Cross / R. Zarazua were active during the day. Matches proceeded under pressure, especially in early rounds, where coordination among international duos is critical. What to Watch The international mix — with players hailing from Canada, Mexico, Croatia, Belarus, and beyond — means styles and strategies will collide in interesting ways. Early-round upsets are always possible in ITF events, and the qualifiers often bring hunger and unpredictability to the draw. Doubles teams with players from different countries may test chemistry and communication under match conditions.

The Edmond Open W100, part of the ITF World Tennis Tour , is showcasing some of the brightest rising stars in women’s tennis. Among them are sisters Gracie and Zoie Epps, whose paths through collegiate tennis have prepared them for this professional stage. A Family of Competitors Tennis has always been part of the Epps family identity, and now, with both sisters competing at the professional level, Edmond Center Court has become the latest chapter in their shared journey. Each sister brings her own distinct style of play and college pedigree, making their story a unique highlight of this year’s tournament. Gracie Epps: Cowgirl Consistency Gracie represents Oklahoma State Cowgirl Tennis, where she has built a reputation for her consistency and leadership on court. Known for her disciplined baseline game and ability to grind through long rallies, she’s contributed significantly to the Cowgirls’ presence in the Big 12 Conference. Her time at OSU has seen her develop into a player who thrives in high-pressure moments, often turning tight matches into statement wins. At Edmond, Gracie carries the confidence that comes from playing at one of the nation’s most competitive tennis programs, where she has faced many of the same international players now competing alongside her in the W100. Zoie Epps: Tech Tenacity Zoie, meanwhile, has carved her own identity at Louisiana Tech Athletics Women's Tennis, where her aggressive playing style and quick hands at the net have made her a standout in Conference USA. Her collegiate success has been marked by grit and determination, often taking on the toughest opponents and earning signature victories for the Lady Techsters. While Gracie’s game is built around patience, Zoie’s is defined by risk-taking and attacking play. That contrast has given fans a glimpse into how differently two sisters can approach the same sport while both excelling at the collegiate level. From College Courts to the Pro Stage For the Epps sisters, the Edmond Open W100 is more than just another tournament—it’s an opportunity to test their collegiate-honed skills against seasoned professionals. The ITF circuit is a demanding proving ground, and their participation signals both ambition and readiness for the next step in their careers. Their presence also highlights a growing trend of college tennis players successfully transitioning to the pro tour. Both OSU and Louisiana Tech have been key in shaping their competitive instincts, but Edmond is where they get to measure themselves on a truly global stage. Looking Ahead Whether they advance deep into the draw or use this as a stepping stone, the Epps sisters are proving that Oklahoma and Louisiana collegiate programs can produce talent ready to shine under the international spotlight. Fans at Edmond Center Court are not just watching two players; they’re witnessing the continuation of a family story written in forehands, volleys, and the drive to compete at the highest level.

If you have spent any time around Oklahoma tennis the past few years, you have probably heard this refrain: the Corley sisters are different. Carmen and Ivana Corley, Albuquerque natives who turned OU doubles courts into a stage, have carried that energy onto the pro tour, where they arrive at the OKTF Edmond Open W100 with a bona fide winning pedigree and a brand of doubles that is fast, fearless, and fun to watch. From Norman fan favorites to national contenders At Oklahoma, the Corleys were the heartbeat of a program that rewrote school history. As a No. 1 tandem, they piled up wins (17–2 at the top line in 2021) and collected All-American honors, while helping propel the Sooners to the 2022 NCAA team final, the program’s first national championship match appearance. Their doubles point often set the tone; their presence made OU a dangerous team before a ball was even struck. Carmen’s OU résumé reads like a highlight reel: two-time ITA All-American, multiple All-Big 12 selections, and Big 12 Player of the Week nods, while Ivana added conference honors of her own and, together, the sisters routinely took down ranked opponents. That collegiate edge, first-ball strikes, sharp poaches, and the swagger to own big moments, has carried forward. The transition to the pros has looked less like a learning curve and more like a launch. Last summer, the sisters captured their first ITF World Tennis Tour title together at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, a milestone week that announced them as a doubles team to watch. They defeated Arianne Hartono and Prarthana Thombare in straight sets on the grass at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. They’ve backed it up at the ITF W100 level too, most notably with a clutch championship run at W100 Landisville (Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge), where they saved match points and edged the top seeds in a match tiebreak. That win is exactly the kind of result that moves rankings, earns main-draw entries, and turns heads in locker rooms. The big-stage proof point came in New York: the Corleys earned a US Open Tennis Championship doubles wild card in 2024 and won their opening match, then returned to Flushing Meadows again in 2025. For a duo forged on college courts, those night-session roars felt like a natural next step. Watch them for five minutes and you see it: Carmen’s first-strike returning and aggressive baseline patterns set Ivana up to live at the net. They play quick—taking returns early, pinching middle, and trusting one another on the switch. College taught them to value the doubles point; the tour has taught them how to close under pressure. Their Newport title showed they can win on slick grass; Landisville proved they can problem-solve deep into a tight, hard-court tiebreak. The Edmond Open W100: a fitting stage That makes the OKTF Edmond Open W100, Oklahoma’s historic first women’s $100K, feel like a homecoming with stakes. A strong week here means ranking points, momentum into the indoor swing, and, for the fans, a chance to watch two OU legends apply their craft at world-class speed in the very place that shaped them. Expect the same signatures: quick holds behind first serves, opportunistic poaches, and a willingness to play the big ball on deuce points. What comes next The blueprint is clear. Pile up deep runs at W100/WTA 125 events, mix in the occasional WTA main draw, and keep stacking rep-worthy wins over seeded teams. Recent form—and the hardware to prove it—says they are ahead of schedule. The Corleys do not just bring name recognition back to Edmond; they bring a doubles team already capable of contending with anyone in the draw. Bottom line: OU built their chemistry. The pro tour sharpened their edges. Now the Corley sisters arrive at Edmond Center Court not as feel-good stories, but as favorites—with the results to back it up and the crowd behind them.

How WTA Tennis Points Work Think of WTA points like a scorecard that measures how well a player has been doing over the past year. Every time a player competes in a professional tournament, she earns points based on how far she advances. The bigger and tougher the tournament, the more points are up for grabs. Winning a match = earning points. The deeper you go in a tournament, the more points you collect. For example, winning a first-round match at a small event may earn a handful of points, while winning a major championship could add thousands. Not all tournaments are equal. Grand Slams (like Wimbledon or the US Open) offer the most points. Mid-level tournaments offer fewer, but still meaningful, points. It’s a rolling 52-week system. Points from each tournament count for one year, then drop off when that tournament comes around again the following season. That means players have to keep performing well to maintain or improve their ranking. Rankings = tournament entry. The total number of points a player has determines her world ranking. Higher rankings mean automatic entry into top tournaments, better seeding, and fewer tough matchups early on. In short: points are the currency of professional tennis. They decide who gets into which tournaments, who gets seeded, and ultimately who rises to the top of the world rankings.

The Oklahoma Tennis Foundation’s Pro Series has quickly become one of the most exciting developments on the state’s tennis scene — a collection of world-class events bringing top talent, unforgettable experiences, and a whole new level of energy to Oklahoma courts. We sat down with Bill Towler, the visionary behind the series, to learn how it all began, what makes these tournaments special, and where the future is headed. From and Idea to a Movement “In early 2023, I thought it would be interesting for us to host a non-sanctioned pro tournament in the fall,” Towler explains. “It would give the Oklahoma Tennis Foundation a chance to create awareness for our brand, reach out to the tennis community, and — most importantly — have some fun!” After researching other events and consulting college coaches, Towler launched the first OKTF $25K Invitational in October 2023 at Edmond Center Court. The event combined high-level tennis with a vibrant atmosphere, complete with a shrimp boil, live band, and Calcutta auction on opening night. “The World Team Tennis format worked fantastic,” Towler says. “It’s very fan-friendly and loads of fun.” Following the Invitational’s success, the OKTF Pro Series was born in 2024, combining the Invitational, the OKTF W75 Edmond Open , and The Norman Open into one exciting statewide lineup. Mark your Calendars This year, the OKTF Pro Series returns bigger than ever, bringing top-tier tennis to three major events across Oklahoma: OKTF Invitational — October 3–4, 2025 (Edmond Center Court) OKTF W100 Edmond Open — October 6–12, 2025 (Edmond Center Court) OKTF Norman Open — October 20–26, 2025 (University of Oklahoma) The Invitational: Competition Meets Celebration The OKTF Invitational has quickly become the second-largest non-sanctioned professional tournament in the U.S. Its unique structure — a World Team Tennis format featuring teams of four players (two men, two women), makes for fast-paced, exciting matches. “One of the unique elements of this event is that it’s non-sanctioned, so, for lack of a better term, we can do what we want,” Towler explains. Opening night, Friday, October 3rd, kicks off with the Racquet & Roll Celebration, featuring a live band, dinner a Calcutta auction, and the first round of play. On Saturday, October 4th, fans can enjoy an adaptive clinic in the morning, a kids’ clinic before the finals, and plenty of opportunities to interact with players.  “It’s just a special experience for our fans, players, officials, and volunteers,” Towler says. The W100 Edmond Open: A Global Stage in Oklahoma Few realize the level of talent coming to Edmond for the OKTF W100 Edmond Open, taking place October 6–12, 2025. “There were only four W100 events in the U.S. last year out of 27 worldwide,” Towler notes. “Fans will see players ranked anywhere from the top 60 to around 250 in the world. Most of these players have competed in majors and are just a narrow margin away from breaking into the top 50.” Last year’s event featured Victoria Mboko, who is now ranked No. 24 in the world, a sign of the elite talent these tournaments attract. Players, coaches, and their teams come in from all over the world, and through broadcast partnerships, fans globally can stream every match live. Locally, tennis lovers can watch world-class competition up close and personal at Edmond Center Court. The Norman Open: A Fan Favorite Grows The OKTF Norman Open, scheduled for October 20–26, 2025, continues to grow in prestige and popularity. The event actually includes two separate pro tournaments (an M25 and a W35) running simultaneously at the University of Oklahoma. “Dawna Johnston and her team at OU have turned the Norman Open into one of the feature stops on the Pro Circuit,” Towler says. The tournament has welcomed some incredible names over the years, including Danielle Collins, Bianca Andreescu, Sofia Kenin, and Learner Tien. This year, the event will be even more special thanks to a $7.2 million renovation of OU’s tennis facilities, offering fans and players an enhanced, first-class experience. Looking Ahead, Building for the Future Towler has big hopes for the OKTF Pro Series moving forward: “My hope is that this isn’t just a showcase of tournaments but a model others can adopt around the country to host Pro Circuit events,” he says. “Ultimately, I’d love for us to host an ATP or WTA event one day.” Beyond growing the game at a professional level, Towler believes these events inspire the entire Oklahoma tennis community: “These events give young and old players the chance to come see some of the best tennis in the world right here in Oklahoma,” he says. “We hope it motivates people to get on the court, play tennis, and give back to the community.” Find out more by clicking here. Original publication: https://thebaseliner.net/f/raising-the-game---inside-the-oktf-pro-series-with-bill-towler

OKTF Seeks Ball Persons for October Tournaments in Edmond The Oklahoma Tennis Foundation (OKTF) is seeking ball persons to participate in two upcoming professional tennis events at Edmond Center Court: OKTF Invitational – October 3–4, 2025 ITF/USTA Edmond Open W100 Professional Women’s Tournament – October 6–12, 2025 These tournaments will bring world-class tennis to Edmond, and ball persons play a crucial role in creating a professional, smooth-running experience for players and fans alike. “We’re especially looking for juniors ages 11-and- up who have an understanding of the scoring and adults who play in local or USTA leagues,” said David Minihan. “It is mandatory that we have ball persons for all main draw matches, so we are needing help with the adult market especially during the morning and early afternoons. This is a unique opportunity to be part of the action and get up close to top-level tennis.” Ball Person Details: Eligibility: Juniors and adults (league players, juniors 11 & up, and tennis enthusiasts) Training: Instruction and guidance provided — no prior experience required Availability: Volunteers should be flexible, as match times may shift with scheduling Perks: Ball persons will receive a complimentary ticket valid for the entire week of the ITF/USTA Edmond Open W100 Interested individuals are encouraged to sign up by completing the availability form here: Sign up . As a thank-you for serving as a ball person, you will receive a complimentary ticket valid for the entire week of the USTA/ITF Edmond Open W100. We truly appreciate your support! For more information, please contact Coach Marina at marinaer80@gmail.com