By Tyler Norris Goode

Courtsey of Asheville Citizen-Times

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Except for an occasional line call or score update, Britney Cloer mostly said "Thank you" during her opening-round match against Greta Anderson at the City of Asheville Open Tennis Championships on Thursday evening.

Anderson complimented most of the winners Cloer ripped, so the rising senior at UNC Asheville responded politely before smashing another to start the cycle anew.

It all made for a very courteous, if quick, start to open division play on Aston Park's clay courts.

Cloer stormed past Anderson 6-0, 6-0 in roughly an hour.

"This is the first tournament I've played since my season ended (April 22)," said Cloer, the former WNC high school standout who won four NCHSAA titles (three for Brevard High, one for West Henderson High).

"I'm not used to clay, but I felt my game was pretty on," Cloer added. "I grew up playing on hard courts, so that's the surface I'm used to. When it comes to clay, you have to really take into consideration the lines. Some lines are higher than others, especially on these courts.

Cloer advanced to face nine-time Asheville Open champion Renata Marcinkowska at 10:30 a.m. today. Now 45, Marcinkowska won the tournament the last two years as well as from 1989-1991 and from 1994-1997 while playing under the name Ren Baranski.

For more on the Asheville City Open, please go to www.citizen-times.com.