morning by two-time Mecco Cup champion Varvara Lepchenko of Allentown, PA. Lepchenko,

the no. 2 seed in this year’s tournament, overcame Alexandra Mueller (Abington, PA) in a

spirited match, 6-2, 6-1. Lepchenko was happy to be back in her hometown, saying, “I feel so

comfortable here. I practice here all the time, and of course everything goes well for me here.”

Although Lepchenko won the Mecco Cup in 2005 and 2006, she was unable to defend her title

last year because she was in Europe playing grass-court events in preparation for Wimbledon,

where she played in the main draw. That Mueller was defeated by Lepchenko just goes to show

how the level of competition here at the 2008 Mecco Cup has increased along with the increase

in prize money.

In a highly competitive match before a nearly standing-room only crowd on court 7, top-seeded

Stephanie Dubois (Canada) prevailed in three sets [SCORE] over qualifier Christina McHale

(Englewood Cliffs, CA). The no. 603-ranked McHale surprised the no. 100-th ranked Dubois by

keeping pace with her and taking the first set, during which Dubois received medical treatment

for an undisclosed injury. “I didn’t have a really good start in the first set,” Dubois said. “I’m

happy that I won, but I need to step up in my other matches.” Dubois rallied to take the second

set and, ultimately, the match by raising the level of her game and outlasting the 16-year-old

rising American. Dubois will move on to face wild card Mallory Cecil (Bradenton, FL), who

today upset the no. 263-ranked Natalie Grandin (South Africa), 7-5, 6-3.

In the first set of their rain-delayed match on Stadium Court late this afternoon, Lancaster PA’s

Lauren Nikolaus-Zink stayed right with no. 8 seed Regina Kulikova (Russia), playing brilliant

tennis before losing the first set in a tiebreak 7 points to 4. Though the final set of this 7-6 (4), 6-

0 victory by the 19 year-old Russian quickly got away from the 31 year-old platform tennis

champion, Zink’s improbable run through qualifying to the Mecco Cup main draw will not soon

be forgotten.

Upset victims today included no. 4 seed Abigail Spears (San Diego, CA), no. 6 seed Soledad

Esperon (Argentina), and no. 7 seed Ye-Ra Lee (Korea).

The highlight of Media Day at the 2008 Mecco Cup was the annual “Media Challenge” match,

this year pitting Service Electric TV-2’s Al DiCarlo and Pro Circuit player Dominika Dieskova

(Slovakia) against Sportsradio AM-1470 The Fox’s Bob Holder and pro partner Liga

Dekmeijere (Latvia). Playing in borrowed shoes and shorts and using a borrowed racquet,

Holder struggled early on to find his groove, despite the on-court coaching of partner Dieskova.

DiCarlo and Dekmeijere seemed to gel slightly better as a team with DiCarlo exhibiting

surprisingly soft hands at net. Despite the lighthearted nature of this exhibition, Dekmeijere

laughingly noted after the match that she had trouble taking some of the power out of her

service motion, which completely overpowered Holder. Though Holder and Dieskova made a

late rally, DiCarlo and Dekmeijere prevailed 8-3 in this special pro set. Holder vowed to train

over the course of the next year and claims he will win next year’s Media Challenge, hopefully in

a rematch with these same players.

Highlights from today’s matches, including the Media Challenge, will appear tonight on TV-2’s

Lehigh Valley Sports Scene show, airing at 9 PM (after Iron Pigs baseball). Earlier this evening,

both Dieskova and Dekmeijere appeared on Holder’s “After Further Review” show on

Sportsradio AM-1470 The Fox to breakdown today’s “epic” Media Challenge classic.