Julie Ditty
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Short description|American tennis player (1979–2021)}}
{{Infobox tennis biography
| image = Julie Ditty hitting ball Albuquerque 2008.jpg
| caption = Ditty at a $75k event in Albuquerque (2008)
| name = Julie Ditty
| country = {{USA}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1979|1|4}}
| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|08|31|1979|1|4}}
| death_place = Ashland, Kentucky
| height = {{convert|1.68|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| turnedpro = 2002
| retired = 2012
| plays = Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
| careerprizemoney = $493,612
| singlesrecord = {{tennis record|won=294|lost=231}}
| singlestitles = 9 ITF
| highestsinglesranking = No. 89 (March 24, 2008)
| AustralianOpenresult = 1R (2008)
| FrenchOpenresult = 1R (2008)
| Wimbledonresult = 1R (2008)
| USOpenresult = Q3 (2007)
| doublesrecord = {{tennis record|won=296|lost=168}}
| doublestitles = 30 ITF
| highestdoublesranking = No. 66 (August 3, 2009)
| AustralianOpenDoublesresult = 1R (2009)
| FrenchOpenDoublesresult = 2R (2009)
| WimbledonDoublesresult = 2R (2009)
| USOpenDoublesresult = 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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090207034055/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/tennis/wires/02/03/2000.ap.ten.us.fed.cup.0244/index.html Mattek Out, Ditty in on US Fed Cup Squad] SI.com, February 2, 2009
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.[http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=152626] USONP Southern section
ITF Circuit finals
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;" width=15% |
| bgcolor="#f88379"
| $100,000 tournaments |
| bgcolor="#f7e98e"
| $75,000 tournaments |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| $50,000 tournaments |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| $25,000 tournaments |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| $10,000 tournaments |
=Singles: 14 (9 titles, 5 runner-ups)=
| class=wikitable
!Result !No. !Date !Tournament !Surface !Opponent !Score |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 1. | June 24, 2001 | ITF Easton, US | Hard | {{flagicon|KOR}} Jeon Mi-ra | 4–6, 6–7(4–7) |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 1. | July 8, 2001 | ITF Waco, US | Hard | {{flagicon|IND}} Jahnavi Parekh | 6–4, 6–2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 2. | September 29, 2002 | ITF Raleigh, US | Clay | {{flagicon|HAI}} Neyssa Etienne | 7–5, 3–6, 6–4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 3. | October 6, 2002 | ITF Winter Park, US | Clay | {{flagicon|CZE}} Vladimíra Uhlířová | 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 4. | June 4, 2006 | ITF Houston, US | Hard (i) | {{flagicon|SLO}} Petra Rampre | 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 5. | June 11, 2006 | ITF Hilton Head, US | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Madison Brengle | 6–3, 6–2 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 2. | November 19, 2006 | ITF Lawrenceville, US | Hard | {{flagicon|CAN}} Stéphanie Dubois | 3–6, 6–7(6–8) |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 6. | February 4, 2007 | ITF Palm Desert, US | Hard | {{flagicon|GER}} Angelique Kerber | 6–1, 6–0 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 7. | April 29, 2007 | ITF Sea Island, US | Clay | {{flagicon|ROU}} Anda Perianu | 6–3, 6–2 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 8. | October 21, 2007 | ITF Lawrenceville, US | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Angela Haynes | 7–6(8–6), 6–4 |
| bgcolor="#f7e98e"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 9. | September 21, 2008 | ITF Albuquerque, US | Hard | {{flagicon|PAR}} Rossana de los Ríos | 6–4, 7–6(7–3) |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 3. | October 19, 2008 | ITF Lawrenceville, US | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Shenay Perry | 1–6, 3–6 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 4. | November 9, 2008 | ITF Auburn, US | Hard | {{flagicon|ROU}} Edina Gallovits | 0–6, 7–6(9–7), 5–7 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 5. | November 16, 2008 | ITF San Diego, US | Hard | {{flagicon|ROU}} Edina Gallovits | 6–4, 3–6, 2–6 |
=Doubles: 52 (30 titles, 22 runner-ups)=
| class="sortable wikitable"
!Result !No. !Date !Tournament !Surface !Partner !Opponents !class="unsortable" |Score |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 1. | August 8, 1999 | ITF Harrisonburg, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|TPE}} Wang I-ting | {{flagicon|USA}} Amanda Augustus | 7–5, 3–6, 2–6 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 1. | July 1, 2001 | ITF Edmond, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Michelle Dasso | {{flagicon|NZL}} Ilke Gers | 6–4, 7–5 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 2. | August 5, 2001 | Lexington Challenger, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|VEN}} Milagros Sequera | {{flagicon|AUS}} Lisa McShea | 0–6, 4–6 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 3. | July 7, 2002 | ITF Waco, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Michelle Dasso | {{flagicon|ISR}} Marina Bernshtein | 4–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 4. | September 22, 2002 | ITF Greenville, United States | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Michelle Dasso | {{flagicon|CAN}} Jennifer Radman | 6–4, 5–7, 3–6 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 2. | September 29, 2002 | ITF Raleigh, United States | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Michelle Dasso | {{flagicon|ARG}} Erica Krauth | 7–6(4), 6–3 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 3. | October 6, 2002 | ITF Winter Park, United States | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Michelle Dasso | {{flagicon|USA}} Marilyn Baker | 6–2, 6–1 |
| bgcolor="#f7e98e"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 5. | April 27, 2003 | Dothan Classic, United States | Clay | {{flagicon|UZB}} Varvara Lepchenko | {{flagicon|VEN}} Milagros Sequera | 7–5, 1–6, 2–6 |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 6. | May 18, 2003 | ITF Charlottesville, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|AUS}} Christina Wheeler | {{flagicon|USA}} Bethanie Mattek | 5–7, 1–6 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 4. | June 29, 2003 | ITF Edmond, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Kelly McCain | {{flagicon|USA}} Angela Haynes | 6–3, 6–3 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 5. | August 3, 2003 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|AUS}} Lisa McShea | {{flagicon|USA}} Teryn Ashley | 7–6(4), 6–7(5), 6–3 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 7. | January 25, 2004 | ITF Boca Raton, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Allison Bradshaw | {{flagicon|CHN}} Peng Shuai | 1–6, 2–6 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 6. | February 1, 2004 | ITF Boca Raton, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Allison Bradshaw | {{flagicon|BLR}} Natallia Dziamidzenka | 6–3, 6–1 |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 8. | April 4, 2004 | ITF Augusta, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Jessica Lehnhoff | {{flagicon|ITA}} Francesca Lubiani | 1–6, 3–6 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 9. | July 25, 2004 | ITF Schenectady, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Ansley Cargill | {{flagicon|AUS}} Casey Dellacqua | 6–3, 6–7(2), 2–6 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 7. | August 8, 2004 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|ROU}} Edina Gallovits | {{flagicon|IRL}} Claire Curran | 1–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 8. | October 10, 2004 | ITF Lafayette, United States | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Kristen Schlukebir | {{flagicon|RSA}} Natalie Grandin | 6–2, 7–5 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 9. | January 16, 2005 | ITF Tampa, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|CZE}} Vladimíra Uhlířová | {{flagicon|USA}} Cory Ann Avants | 6–1, 6–2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 10. | January 23, 2005 | ITF Miami, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|CZE}} Vladimíra Uhlířová | {{flagicon|CAN}} Mélanie Marois | 6–3, 2–6, 7–6(3) |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 11. | February 6, 2005 | ITF Rockford, United States | Hard (i) | {{flagicon|CZE}} Vladimíra Uhlířová | {{flagicon|CAN}} Joana Cortez | 3–6, 7–5, 7–5 |
| bgcolor="#f7e98e"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 10. | April 24, 2005 | Dothan Classic, United States | Clay | {{flagicon|CZE}} Vladimíra Uhlířová | {{flagicon|USA}} Carly Gullickson | 6–4, 1–6, 2–6 |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 12. | June 12, 2005 | ITF Allentown, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Ansley Cargill | {{flagicon|USA}} Cory Ann Avants | 6–2- 6–3 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 11. | July 17, 2005 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Teryn Ashley | {{flagicon|BLR}} Natallia Dziamidzenka | 5–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
| bgcolor="#f7e98e"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 13. | September 26, 2005 | ITF Albuquerque, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|VEN}} Milagros Sequera | {{flagicon|INA}} Romana Tedjakusuma | 6–3, 6–7(6), 7–6(2) |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 14. | October 9, 2005 | ITF Troy, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|VEN}} Milagros Sequera | {{flagicon|GEO}} Salome Devidze | 6–2, 6–2 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 12. | January 29, 2006 | ITF Waikoloa, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Lilia Osterloh | {{flagicon|TPE}} Chan Chin-wei | 5–7, 6–4, 2–6 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 15. | February 24, 2006 | ITF St. Paul, United States | Hard (i) | {{flagicon|VEN}} Milagros Sequera | {{flagicon|CZE}} Eva Hrdinová | 4–6, 7–6(5), 6–2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 13. | June 11, 2006 | ITF Hilton Head, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Ansley Cargill | {{flagicon|USA}} Christina Fusano | 6–7(6), 4–6 |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 14. | June 18, 2006 | ITF Allentown, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Ansley Cargill | {{flagicon|USA}} Carly Gullickson | 3–6, 4–6 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 16. | August 20, 2006 | Bronx Open, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA}} Natalie Grandin | {{flagicon|CZE}} Lucie Hradecká | 6–1, 7–6(2) |
| bgcolor="#f7e98e"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 17. | September 24, 2006 | ITF Albuquerque, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|VEN}} Milagros Sequera | {{flagicon|USA}} Christina Fusano | 6–1, 6–4 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 18. | October 1, 2006 | ITF Ashland, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|VEN}} Milagros Sequera | {{flagicon|USA}} Ashley Harkleroad | 6–3, 5–7, 6–2 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 19. | October 22, 2006 | Houston Challenger, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|UKR}} Tetiana Luzhanska | {{flagicon|USA}} Laura Granville | 6–4, 4–6, 7–5 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 20. | November 19, 2006 | ITF Lawrenceville, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|NZL}} Leanne Baker | {{flagicon|USA}} Christina Fusano | 7–6(5), 6–4 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 15. | January 27, 2007 | ITF Waikoloa, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|LAT}} Līga Dekmeijere | {{flagicon|RSA}} Natalie Grandin | 0–6, 3–6 |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 21. | February 4, 2007 | ITF Palm Desert, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|ROU}} Edina Gallovits | {{flagicon|RSA}} Natalie Grandin | 6–2, 6–1 |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 22. | March 25, 2007 | ITF Redding, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|TPE}} Chan Chin-wei | {{flagicon|ARG}} Jorgelina Cravero | 6–3, 6–2 |
| bgcolor="#f7e98e"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 16. | August 4, 2007 | ITF Washington, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA}} Natalie Grandin | {{flagicon|ARG}} Jorgelina Cravero | 6–1, 1–6, 2–6 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 17. | August 18, 2007 | Bronx Open, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Raquel Kops-Jones | {{flagicon|CZE}} Lucie Hradecká | 2–6, 4–6 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 18. | October 21, 2007 | ITF Lawrenceville, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|NZL}} Leanne Baker | {{flagicon|CAN}} Stéphanie Dubois | 2–6, 0–6 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 23. | June 6, 2008 | Surbiton Trophy, England | Grass | {{flagicon|USA}} Abigail Spears | {{flagicon|GBR}} Sarah Borwell | 7–6(2), 6–2 |
| bgcolor="#f7e98e"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 24. | September 21, 2008 | ITF Albuquerque, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Carly Gullickson | {{flagicon|ARG}} Jorgelina Cravero | 6–3, 6–4 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 19. | September 28, 2008 | ITF Ashland, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Carly Gullickson | {{flagicon|LAT}} Līga Dekmeijere | 3–6, 6–3, [8–10] |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 25. | October 19, 2008 | ITF Lawrenceville, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Carly Gullickson | {{flagicon|INA}} Yayuk Basuki | 3–6, 6–4, [12–10] |
| bgcolor="#f7e98e"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 26. | April 26, 2009 | Dothan Classic, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Carly Gullickson | {{flagicon|RUS}} Ekaterina Bychkova | 2–6, 6–1, [10–6] |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 27. | May 2, 2010 | ITF Charlottesville, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Carly Gullickson | {{flagicon|USA}} Alexandra Mueller | 6–4, 6–3 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 20. | May 9, 2010 | ITF Indian Harbour Beach, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Carly Gullickson | {{flagicon|USA}} Christina Fusano | 3–6, 6–7(4) |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 28. | October 9, 2010 | ITF Kansas City, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Abigail Spears | {{flagicon|USA}} Lauren Albanese | 6–2, 4–6, [10–3] |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 21. | November 6, 2010 | ITF Grapevine, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|RSA}} Chanelle Scheepers | {{flagicon|USA}} Ahsha Rolle | 7–5, 2–6, [9–11] |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 29. | February 5, 2011 | ITF Rancho Santa Fe, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|BIH}} Mervana Jugić-Salkić | {{flagicon|JPN}} Shuko Aoyama | 6–0, 6–2 |
| bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 30. | March 5, 2011 | ITF Hammond, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Christina Fusano | {{flagicon|BIH}} Mervana Jugić-Salkić | 6–3, 6–3 |
| bgcolor="#addfad"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 22. | April 30, 2011 | ITF Charlottesville, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Carly Gullickson | {{flagicon|CAN}} Sharon Fichman | 4–6, 3–6 |
Personal life
Ditty is the aunt to Gavin Lochow, an FCS Central freshman All-American wide receiver for the Dayton Flyers{{cite web|url=https://daytonflyers.com/sports/football/roster/gavin-lochow/15022|title=Gavin Lochow Player Profile|access-date=October 7, 2024|publisher=Dayton Flyers}}
Death
Julie Ditty died on August 31, 2021, at the age of 42 after battling breast cancer.{{Cite web|date=September 1, 2021|title=Serious Illness Finally Becomes Tennis Star Julie Ditty's Cause of Death|url=https://usdaynews.com/celebrities/celebrity-death/julie-ditty-death-cause/|access-date=September 1, 2021|website=US day News|language=en-CA|archive-date=December 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211231707/https://usdaynews.com/celebrities/celebrity-death/julie-ditty-death-cause/|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist}}
- [https://deathmilitia.com/julie-ditty-died-due-to-illness-at-42 Julie Ditty Death]