![]() Ditty at a $75k event in Albuquerque (2008) | |
Country (sports) | ![]() |
---|---|
Born | Atlanta, Georgia | January 4, 1979
Died | August 31, 2021 Ashland, Kentucky | (aged 42)
Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
Turned pro | 2002 |
Retired | 2012 |
Plays | Left-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $493,612 |
Singles | |
Career record | 294–231 |
Career titles | 9 ITF |
Highest ranking | No. 89 (March 24, 2008) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 1R (2008) |
French Open | 1R (2008) |
Wimbledon | 1R (2008) |
US Open | Q3 (2007) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 296–168 |
Career titles | 30 ITF |
Highest ranking | No. 66 (August 3, 2009) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | 1R (2009) |
French Open | 2R (2009) |
Wimbledon | 2R (2009) |
US Open | 3R (2008) |
Julie Ditty Qualls (January 4, 1979 – August 31, 2021) was an American professional tennis player.
She had her WTA Tour breakthrough when she reached the semifinals of the Bell Challenge. It took her into the top 100 for the first time in her career, on November 5, 2007, at No. 91. She beat Alizé Cornet and Vania King before falling to Julia Vakulenko in three sets. In 2007, she was drafted by the Boston Lobsters of the WTT pro league.
Career
2008
In 2008, Ditty qualified for the Open Gaz de France tournament in Paris where she lost to the No. 6 seed and former world No. 1, Amélie Mauresmo. During the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp, she made it through the first round by defeating Alona Bondarenko, who was seeded eighth, and got to the second round there before falling to qualifier Timea Bacsinszky 5–7, 4–6, after having leads in both sets. Her win over world No. 22, Alona Bondarenko, was best-ever career win. In August, Julie defeated Yuan Meng in the first round at Cincinnati, marking her first win in a WTA Tour main-draw since Antwerp.
2009
Ditty was named to the United States Fed Cup team for their match in February against Argentina, after Bethanie Mattek withdrew with an injury; she played doubles with Liezel Huber. They would win the decisive match for the U.S. team, 6–2, 6–3.[1]
Following Fed Cup, Julie lost in the opening round in Midland and in Memphis. She did not play in March.
In April, she won her opening main-draw match in Charleston, South Carolina, defeating Ayumi Morita 6–1, 6–1. This would mark her first tour-level win for the year. In her next tournament, a $75k at Dothan, Alabama, Julie retired in her opening round against Yan Zi. In doubles, she partnered with Carly Gullickson to extend her record of USTA ITF titles to 35 as they would win the doubles title.
In May, she entered the singles qualifying draws in Rome, Madrid, Strasbourg, and the French Open, failing to qualify in all four. In Rome, she partnered with Jill Craybas to win their opening round before falling in the second.
2010
Ditty appeared in the Family Circle Cup, Miami Open, and in Wimbledon. She won her first qualifying match against Margalita Chakhnashvili, 6–4, 6–3. She then went on to defeat Jelena Dokić, 5–7, 7–5, 6–2 to reach the final round of qualifying where she lost a place in the main draw to compatriot Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
2014
In June 2014, Ditty emerged from retirement and led Team Kentucky to a decisive win in the Southern Senior Cup Women's 35 and over division. She followed this up by winning the US Open National Playoff tournament for the Southern section.[2]
Death
Julie Ditty died on August 31, 2021, at the age of 42 after battling breast cancer.[3]
ITF Circuit finals
$100,000 tournaments |
$75,000 tournaments |
$50,000 tournaments |
$25,000 tournaments |
$10,000 tournaments |
Singles: 14 (9 titles, 5 runner-ups)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | June 24, 2001 | ITF Easton, USA | Hard | ![]() |
4–6, 6–7(4–7) |
Winner | 1. | July 8, 2001 | ITF Waco, USA | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 2. | September 29, 2002 | ITF Raleigh, USA | Clay | ![]() |
7–5, 3–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 3. | October 6, 2002 | ITF Winter Park, USA | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 4–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 4. | June 4, 2006 | ITF Houston, USA | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 |
Winner | 5. | June 11, 2006 | ITF Hilton Head, USA | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 2. | November 19, 2006 | ITF Lawrenceville, USA | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 6–7(6–8) |
Winner | 6. | February 4, 2007 | ITF Palm Desert, USA | Hard | ![]() |
6–1, 6–0 |
Winner | 7. | April 29, 2007 | ITF Sea Island, USA | Clay | ![]() |
6–3, 6–2 |
Winner | 8. | October 21, 2007 | ITF Lawrenceville, USA | Hard | ![]() |
7–6(8–6), 6–4 |
Winner | 9. | September 21, 2008 | ITF Albuquerque, USA | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 7–6(7–3) |
Runner-up | 3. | October 19, 2008 | ITF Lawrenceville, USA | Hard | ![]() |
1–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | November 9, 2008 | ITF Auburn, USA | Hard | ![]() |
0–6, 7–6(9–7), 5–7 |
Runner-up | 5. | November 16, 2008 | ITF San Diego, USA | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, 2–6 |
Doubles: 52 (30 titles, 22 runner-ups)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | August 8, 1999 | ITF Harrisonburg, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 3–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 1. | July 1, 2001 | ITF Edmond, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 2. | August 5, 2001 | Lexington Challenger, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
0–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 3. | July 7, 2002 | ITF Waco, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | September 22, 2002 | ITF Greenville, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 5–7, 3–6 |
Winner | 2. | September 29, 2002 | ITF Raleigh, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(4), 6–3 |
Winner | 3. | October 6, 2002 | ITF Winter Park, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 5. | April 27, 2003 | Dothan Classic, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 1–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 6. | May 18, 2003 | ITF Charlottesville, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 1–6 |
Winner | 4. | June 29, 2003 | ITF Edmond, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
Winner | 5. | August 3, 2003 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(4), 6–7(5), 6–3 |
Runner-up | 7. | January 25, 2004 | ITF Boca Raton, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
1–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 6. | February 1, 2004 | ITF Boca Raton, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 8. | April 4, 2004 | ITF Augusta, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
1–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 9. | July 25, 2004 | ITF Schenectady, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–7(2), 2–6 |
Winner | 7. | August 8, 2004 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
1–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 8. | October 10, 2004 | ITF Lafayette, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 7–5 |
Winner | 9. | January 16, 2005 | ITF Tampa, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 6–2 |
Winner | 10. | January 23, 2005 | ITF Miami, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 2–6, 7–6(3) |
Winner | 11. | February 6, 2005 | ITF Rockford, United States | Hard (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 7–5, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 10. | April 24, 2005 | Dothan Classic, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 1–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 12. | June 12, 2005 | ITF Allentown, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2- 6–3 |
Runner-up | 11. | July 17, 2005 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
Winner | 13. | September 26, 2005 | ITF Albuquerque, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–7(6), 7–6(2) |
Winner | 14. | October 9, 2005 | ITF Troy, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 12. | January 29, 2006 | ITF Waikoloa, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 6–4, 2–6 |
Winner | 15. | February 24, 2006 | ITF St. Paul, United States | Hard (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 7–6(5), 6–2 |
Runner-up | 13. | June 11, 2006 | ITF Hilton Head, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(6), 4–6 |
Runner-up | 14. | June 18, 2006 | ITF Allentown, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 16. | August 20, 2006 | Bronx Open, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 7–6(2) |
Winner | 17. | September 24, 2006 | ITF Albuquerque, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 6–4 |
Winner | 18. | October 1, 2006 | ITF Ashland, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 5–7, 6–2 |
Winner | 19. | October 22, 2006 | Houston Challenger, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 4–6, 7–5 |
Winner | 20. | November 19, 2006 | ITF Lawrenceville, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(5), 6–4 |
Runner-up | 15. | January 27, 2007 | ITF Waikoloa, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
0–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 21. | February 4, 2007 | ITF Palm Desert, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–1 |
Winner | 22. | March 25, 2007 | ITF Redding, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 16. | August 4, 2007 | ITF Washington, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 1–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 17. | August 18, 2007 | Bronx Open, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 18. | October 21, 2007 | ITF Lawrenceville, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 0–6 |
Winner | 23. | June 6, 2008 | Surbiton Trophy, England | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(2), 6–2 |
Winner | 24. | September 21, 2008 | ITF Albuquerque, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 19. | September 28, 2008 | ITF Ashland, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, [8–10] |
Winner | 25. | October 19, 2008 | ITF Lawrenceville, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–4, [12–10] |
Winner | 26. | April 26, 2009 | Dothan Classic, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 6–1, [10–6] |
Winner | 27. | May 2, 2010 | ITF Charlottesville, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 20. | May 9, 2010 | ITF Indian Harbour Beach, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–7(4) |
Winner | 28. | October 9, 2010 | ITF Kansas City, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 4–6, [10–3] |
Runner-up | 21. | November 6, 2010 | ITF Grapevine, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 2–6, [9–11] |
Winner | 29. | February 5, 2011 | ITF Rancho Santa Fe, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–0, 6–2 |
Winner | 30. | March 5, 2011 | ITF Hammond, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 22. | April 30, 2011 | ITF Charlottesville, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 3–6 |
References
- ^ Mattek Out, Ditty in on US Fed Cup Squad SI.com, February 2, 2009
- ^ [1] USONP Southern section
- ^ "Serious Illness Finally Becomes Tennis Star Julie Ditty's Cause of Death". US day News. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.