TEMPLETON, Calif. – August 30, 2024 – Just two years ago, Ashlyn Krueger was an 18-year-old unknown professional tennis player from Dallas, Texas, who came to the Central Coast looking to begin her journey and make a name for herself on the WTA Tour. 

The same could be said for McCartney Kessler, who last year entered the EPIC Central Coast Tennis Classic, brought to you by EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, needing a wild card to gain entry into the main draw and was ranked just outside the world top 300 before making a run to the semifinals in Templeton.

Since they came to the coast, both Krueger and Kessler now find themselves in the world top 65 with Krueger still alive in the US Open where she is into the third round and faces No. 16 seed Liudmila Samsonova on Saturday in New York City. Krueger is also still alive in the mixed doubles as she and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski upset No. 5 seeds Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski.

A week before the US Open, the former Florida Gator Kessler, now No. 63 in the world, won her first WTA 250 title the Cleveland Open once again solidifying the Central Coast Tennis Classic as a place to catch the rising stars of the WTA tour.

This year’s annual EPIC Central Coast Tennis Classic will be played once again at the Templeton Tennis Ranch, Sept. 23-29, with top American and international players competing for $60,000  in total prize money and valuable WTA World Tour ranking points.

Templeton Tennis Ranch President and GM Chris Fouquet said he counted 70 past Templeton players (since the tourney’s inception in 2017) and 30 who played in last year’s event who are in US Open draws in singles, doubles or mixed doubles.

“It’s so great to follow along as the players progress and do well on tour after they have come and played here in Templeton,” Fouquet said. “The Central Coast Tennis Classic offers such a unique opportunity to watch, up close, some of the players who may one day be the next superstars of women's tennis.”

Last year’s CCTC singles champion Taylor Townsend is playing in three events at the Open as is seeded No. 3 in doubles with her Czech partner Katerina Siniakova. In singles Townsend, who won the Wimbledon doubles title, won a round in singles at the Open before falling to the No. 26 seed Paula Badosa. 

The tournament is part of the ITF World Tennis Tour / USTA Pro Circuit. The event is open to the public; tickets start at $25 and are available at: www. centralcoasttennisclassic.com, where you can also find news and updates on the tournament. Also check out TTR’s Facebook and Instagram pages www. facebook.com/ttrprotennis / @TTRTennis in the coming weeks for player announcements and the latest tournament news.