Mallory Cecil


Mallory Anne Cecil is a former professional tennis player from the United States.

Biography

A right-handed player from Spartanburg, South Carolina, Cecil trained at the IMG Academy in Florida, where she was coached by Nick Bollettieri. Her junior career included grand slam appearances and she won the doubles title at the 2007 Orange Bowl, partnering Melanie Oudin.

College

While at Duke, she won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's best female tennis player in 2009.

Tennis career

Cecil had her breakthrough on the WTA Tour when she qualified for the main draw of the 2008 Pilot Pen Tennis tournament in New Haven, losing in the first round to Sara Errani, who she had earlier beaten in qualifying. Errani, who was ranked in the world's top 50, had made it into the main draw as a lucky loser and only narrowly beat Cecil in their main draw match, which was decided by a third set tiebreak. She won two ITF singles titles in 2008, both in her home state.
While a collegiate player at Duke University, Cecil won the 2009 NCAA singles championship and also featured in Duke's maiden NCAA team title, after which she turned professional. As the reigning NCAA champion she earned a wildcard into the singles main draw of the 2009 US Open and lost in the first round to Tathiana Garbin.
Cecil qualified for the main draw of the 2009 Challenge Bell in Quebec City and made further WTA Tour appearances as a wildcard at the Charleston Open in both 2009 and 2010. At the Charleston tournament in 2010 she tore a labrum in her hip and made the decision to leave professional tennis and return to Duke to further her studies.