CLEVELAND — The sun has officially set on what is currently Cleveland's only professional women's sporting event -- Tennis in the Land.
After a week of competition, a heavily partisan crowd cheered as American McCartney Kessler earned her first Women's Tennis Association title in her first final appearance. The World No. 98, who had just one tour-level win before being invited to Cleveland, notched a stunning win over top-seeded Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in a three-set tilt, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5.
A Tennis in the Land spokesperson said ahead of the final day that 15,000 tennis fans had visited the Flats for the tournament, and Cleveland did not disappoint. Views of the Main Avenue Bridge and the Cleveland city skyline provided a stunning backdrop as the elite players of the WTA tour convened in the city just a week before heading to Queens, N.Y. for the US Open, one of the sport's four prestigious grand slam tournaments. A near-capacity crowd filled the 2,000 seat stadium for the final day.
Check out the sights of Tennis in the Land with these two photo galleries below.
