Julie Ditty © John Gichigi/Getty Images

Birthdate: Jan. 4, 1979
Birthplace: Ashland, Ky.
Residence: Ashland, Ky.
Height: 5’ 6”
Plays: Left-handed
Ashland, Ky., native Julie Ditty has once again posted impressive results on the USTA Pro Circuit. Last week, the 26-year-old former Vanderbilt University standout gave the best performance of any American at the 2005 Sun Oaks Future Aces USTA Challenger held in Redding, Calif.

Ditty, a 5’ 6” left-hander, notched a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over British wild card Sarah Borwell in the opening round of the tournament. She then posted a come-from-behind upset win against No. 4 seed Saori Obata of Japan, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1), in round two, before falling to sixth-seed and eventual champion Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 7-6 (6), in the quarterfinals.

In addition to her performance in Redding, Ditty has posted other noteworthy results on the USTA Circuit during the first few months of 2005. The doubles prize money leader on the USTA Pro Circuit in 2004 when she won three titles, she has picked up where she left off last year, already equaling that number by taking home doubles championships in Tampa, Fla., Miami and Rockford, Ill., and raising her career total to 11.

Other highlights from 2005 include reaching consecutive singles semifinals at the first two $10,000 tournaments of the year in Miami and Tampa, advancing to the doubles semifinals at the $75,000 event in Midland, Mich., and reaching the doubles semifinals at the WTA Tour event in Acapulco, Mexico.

Currently ranked 264th in the world in singles and 131st in doubles, Ditty is scheduled to compete this week in both singles and doubles at the Taylor Infiniti $25K Women's Pro Circuit event in Augusta, Ga.

RANKING HISTORY
2004 – 266 (WTA)
2003 – 281 (WTA)
2002 – 421 (WTA)
2001 – 650 (WTA)
2000 – 803 (WTA)
1999 – 744 (WTA)

2005 HIGHLIGHTS

Had the best performance of any American at the $25,000 event in Redding, Calif., advancing to the singles quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion and No. 6 seed Lucie Safarova, 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Advanced to the doubles semifinals (with Vladimira Uhlirova) at the WTA Tour event in Acapulco, Mexico... Qualified into the singles main draw but fell in the opening round to Catalina Castano, 6-1, 7-6 (5).
Was a doubles semifinalist (with Vladimira Uhlirova) at the $75,000 event in Midland, Mich.
Won the doubles title (with Vladimira Uhlirova) at the $25,000 event in Rockford, Ill.
Won consecutive doubles titles (with Vladimira Uhlirova) and reached consecutive singles semifinals at the first two $10,000 tournaments of the year in Miami and Tampa.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2004

Advanced to six USTA Pro Circuit doubles finals, winning three titles.
Reached the quarterfinals of the $25,000 ITF Circuit event in Mount Gambier, Australia, falling to Nadja Pavic, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4.
Won the doubles title (with Kristen Schlukebir) at the $25,000 event in Lafayette, La.
Reached the doubles semifinals (with Kelly McCain) at the $50,000 event in Troy, Ala.
Advanced to the doubles semifinals (with Kelly McCain) and the singles quarterfinals at the $25,000 event in Tunica Resorts, Miss.
In her hometown, advanced to the doubles semifinals (with Kelly McCain) and the singles quarterfinals at the $25,000 event in Ashland, Ky.
Was a quarterfinalist at the $25,000 event in Jackson, Miss... Lost to eventual champion Eugenia Linetskaya, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.
Qualified into the $25,000 event in Augusta, Ga., and advanced to the quarterfinals, before falling to Vilmarie Castellvi, 6-1, 6-2.
Won the doubles title (with Edina Gallovits) at the $50,000 event in Louisville, Ky.
Reached the doubles semifinals (with Bryanne Stewart) at the $50,000 event in Lexington, Ky.
Finished runner-up in doubles (with Ansley Cargill) at the $50,000 event in Schenectady, N.Y.
Advanced to the doubles semifinals (with Anouska Van Exel) at the $50,000 event in Charlottesville, Va.
Was a doubles finalist (with Jessica Lehnhoff) at the $25,000 event in Augusta, Ga.
Reached the doubles semifinals (with Renata Voracova) at the WTA event in Bogota, Colombia.
After qualifying into the tournament, she and partner Kelly McCain reached the doubles semifinals at the $75,000 event in Midland, Mich.
Won the doubles title (with Allison Bradshaw) at the $10,000 event in Boca Raton, Fla.
Reached the doubles final (with Allison Bradshaw) and the singles semifinals of the $10,000 event in Boca Raton, Fla.
2003

Reached the doubles semifinals (with Jorgelina Cravero) and the singles quarterfinals at the $25,000 event in Greenville, S.C.
Advanced to the doubles semifinals (with Lisa McShea) at the $75,000 event in Albuquerque, N.M.
Reached the singles quarterfinals of the $25,000 event in Peachtree City, Ga... Lost to Kristina Brandi, 6-2, 6-1.
Won the doubles championship (with Lisa McShea) at the $50,000 event in Louisville, Ky.
Qualified into the $50,000 event in Lexington, Ky., but lost in the opening round to Ludmila Skavronskaia, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
Reached the doubles semifinals (with Varvara Lepchenko) and the singles quarterfinals at the $25,000 event in College Park, Md.
Won the doubles title (with Kelly McCain) at the $10,000 event in Edmond, Okla... Also reached the singles quarterfinals, losing to Milangela Morales, 6-2, 7-6 (8).
Finished runner-up in doubles (with Christina Wheeler) at the $25,000 event in Charlottesville, Va.
Qualified into the $75,000 event in Dothan, Ala., with Varvara Lepchenko and reached the doubles final.
2002

As a qualifier, advanced to the second round of the $50,000 event in Eugene, Ore... Lost to eventual champion Marissa Irvin, 6-2, 6-3.
Was a quarterfinalist at the $25,000 event in Hallandale Beach, Fla., where she lost to Lindsay Lee-Waters, 6-0, 6-1.
Swept consecutive singles and doubles (with Michelle Dasso) titles at the $10,000 events in Raleigh, N.C., and Winter Park, Fla.
Reached the doubles final (with Michelle Dasso) and the singles semifinals at the $10,000 event in Greenville, S.C.
Advanced to the quarterfinals of the $10,000 event in Baltimore... Lost to Tory Zawacki, 7-5, 6-4.
Was a doubles finalist (with Michelle Dasso) and a singles quarterfinalist at the $10,000 event in Waco, Texas.
2001

Qualified into the doubles draw (with Milagros Sequera) at the $50,000 event in Lexington, Ky., and advanced to the final.
Won her first pro singles title at the $10,000 event in Waco, Texas, defeating Jahnavi Parekh, 6-4, 6-2, in the final.
Won her first pro title in doubles (with Michelle Dasso) at the $10,000 event in Edmond, Okla... Also reached the singles quarterfinals.
Finished runner-up at the $10,000 event in Easton, Md., where she lost to Mi-Ra Jeon, 6-4, 7-6 (4).
2000

Advanced to the singles and doubles (with Elizabeth Schmidt) semifinals at the $10,000 event in Baltimore.
Reached the doubles semifinals (with Michelle Dasso) at the $10,000 event in Springfield.
1999

Finished runner-up in doubles (with I-Ting Want) and advanced to the singles semifinals at the $10,000 event in Harrisonburg, Va.
COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS

Attended Vanderbilt University from 1998-2001.
Finished runner-up at the 2000 ITA Summer National Singles and Doubles Championships.
Won the 1999 ITA Summer National Singles and Doubles Championships, advancing to the US Open qualifying draw in each.
Was named the 1999 Tennessee Female Amateur Athlete of the Year… Also named All-American and All-SEC in 1999.
JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS

Finished 1997 ranked No. 6 in the girls’ 18s.
Won the USTA International Hard Court Championships.
Named the Kentucky Female Athlete of the Year while in high school.
PERSONAL

Father, Jack. Mother, Juanita.
Majored in elementary education at Vanderbilt University.