Sandy Sureephong
Varalee "Sandy" Sureephong (born May 2, 1976) is an American former professional tennis player.
| Full name | Varalee Sureephong Blanton |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Born | May 2, 1976 Charleston, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Prize money | $22,020 |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 368 (August 7, 1995) |
| Doubles | |
| Career titles | 6 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 158 (October 17, 1994) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | Q1 (1994) |
Biography
Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Sureephong is of Thai descent and was raised in Baltimore, then later Haines City, Florida. She has been known by "Sandy" since childhood, a nickname which her parents gave her.[1]
Sureephong was a four-time All-American tennis player at the University of Texas, which she attended from 1995 to 1999. She was twice named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year.[2]
On the professional tour she reached a best singles ranking of 368 and was ranked as high as 158 in the world for doubles. She competed in four WTA Tour main draws in doubles and was most successful in partnership with Canada's Vanessa Webb, with whom she won four of her six ITF doubles titles. The pair featured in the qualifying draw for the 1994 Wimbledon Championships.[3]
Her husband is former Chicago Bulls basketball player Ricky Blanton.[4]
ITF finals
| $50,000 tournaments |
| $25,000 tournaments |
| $10,000 tournaments |
Singles: 1 (0–1)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | July 3, 1995 | Norfolk, United States | Hard | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Jane Taylor |
5–7, 1–6 |
Doubles: 14 (6–8)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | July 16, 1990 | Greensboro, United States | Clay |  Julie Kaczmarek |
Jessica Emmons Meredith Geiger |
2–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 2. | October 19, 1992 | Kyoto, Japan | Hard |  Masako Yanagi |
Yuko Hosoki Naoko Kijimuta |
3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 3. | November 16, 1992 | Bangkok, Thailand | Hard | Seiko Ichioka |
 Suvimol Duangchan Benjamas Sangaram |
4–6, 7–6(1), 3–6 |
| Loss | 4. | February 1, 1993 | Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei | Hard | Tamarine Tanasugarn |
 Suzanna Wibowo Romana Tedjakusuma |
3–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 1. | August 2, 1993 | Norfolk, United States | Hard | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Vanessa Webb |
Maija Avotins Lisa McShea |
7–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 2. | October 18, 1993 | Sedona, United States | Hard | Vanessa Webb |
Jessica Emmons Caroline Kuhlman |
6–4, 7–6(5) |
| Win | 3. | August 1, 1994 | Norfolk, United States | Hard | Karin Miller |
Gail Biggs  Claudine Toleafoa |
6–3, 4–6, 6–2 |
| Loss | 5. | October 10, 1994 | Sedona, United States | Hard | Vanessa Webb |
Shannan McCarthy Julie Steven |
3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 6. | February 5, 1995 | Midland, United States | Hard | Laxmi Poruri |
 Brenda Schultz-McCarthy Chanda Rubin |
3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 4. | July 10, 1995 | Easton, United States | Hard | Karin Miller |
Gail Biggs Nicole Oomens |
6–2, 7–6(4) |
| Loss | 7. | July 24, 1995 | Salisbury, Maryland, United States | Hard | Vanessa Webb |
Shannan McCarthy Julie Steven |
3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 5. | June 9, 1997 | Hilton Head, United States | Hard | Vanessa Webb |
Nicola Kaiwai Gaye McManus |
6–1, 6–3 |
| Win | 6. | June 14, 1998 | Hilton Head, United States | Hard | Vanessa Webb |
Holly Parkinson Tracy Almeda-Singian |
6–2, 7–6(4) |
| Loss | 8. | May 28, 2000 | El Paso, United States | Hard | Kaysie Smashey |
 Manisha Malhotra Leanne Baker |
2–6, 6–7 |
References
- "Girls' Top Seed Has Little Trouble". Sun-Sentinel. July 25, 1989.
- "Ragan Gennusa, Andre Robertson among UT Hall of Honor inductees - Port Arthur News". The Port Arthur News. July 11, 2019.
- "ITF Tennis - Pro Circuit - Wimbledon - 20 June - 03 July 1994". itftennis.com.
- "Sandy (Sureephong) Blanton (2019) - Hall of Honor". University of Texas Athletics.