Elk Grove Player Advances at US Open Playoffs

Yasmin Schnack’s debut year on the professional tennis tour has been full of good memories, but her best one might be just a few days away.

Competing in the first round of the women’s singles event at the US Open National Playoffs in New Haven, CT, the Elk Grove native worked her way into the match and was dominant by the end, easily advancing with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Lena Litvak of NYC. The winner of the event will receive a wildcard into the US Open qualifying tournament next week.

“She basically hits two first serves and they were coming in really low, so it took me a while to read that and adjust my backswing,” said Schnack. “Once I got the returns into play, I felt really comfortable in the rallies.”

After finally breaking Litvak’s serve at 4-4 in the opening set, Schnack varied the pace and spin on her own serve, using the often short replies from Litvak to set up points with her forehand.

Litvak lacked a weapon to keep up with Schnack in the baseline rallies and often found herself on the defensive. Schnack didn’t face a break point on her own serve for the rest of the match, storming to a 4-1 lead before closing out the match with a strong return of serve.

“I played well, but I’m still not satisfied,” said Schnack. “There are three more matches to go in this tournament.”

Schnack turned pro in September of last year after an outstanding junior and college tennis career. After being ranked No. 4 in the US in juniors in 2006, she went to UCLA, where she finished ranked among the top five college players in the country.

Since turning pro, she has won one singles title and three doubles titles on the ITF circuit, the equivalent of the minor leagues in baseball, while competing in such as exotic locales as Taiwan and the Philippines. In just one year on tour, she has put together a ranking of No. 373 for singles and no. 221 for doubles.

However, it was her time competing this summer for the Sacramento Capitals during the World Team Tennis season that proved to be the biggest learning experience for Schnack.

“To be able to practice with someone like Vania [King] every day was an amazing opportunity,” said Schnack, referring to the current world No. 7 in doubles. "Her shots are so much harder and deeper than mine, so it was great to see what that level of play is like and see how much I have to work on. Between hitting with her and my other teammates, I felt like I improved every day.”

Schnack said that one of her long-term goals was to play in the Grand Slams, but with the possibility of a wild card just a few days off, things are going way ahead of schedule for the local heroine.

“Playing in the US Open would be a dream come true for me,” said Schnack. “I’m just trying not to get ahead of myself.”