Julie Ditty

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.

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.

ITF Circuit finals $100,000 tournaments $75,000 tournaments $50,000 tournaments $25,000 tournaments $10,000 tournaments

Singles: 14 (9 titles, 5 runner-ups) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 1. June 24, 2001 ITF Easton, US Hard Jeon Mi-ra 4–6, 6–7(4–7)Win 1. July 8, 2001 ITF Waco, US Hard Jahnavi Parekh 6–4, 6–2Win 2. September 29, 2002 ITF Raleigh, US Clay Neyssa Etienne 7–5, 3–6, 6–4Win 3. October 6, 2002 ITF Winter Park, US Clay Vladimíra Uhlířová 6–2, 4–6, 6–4Win 4. June 4, 2006 ITF Houston, US Hard (i) Petra Rampre 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3Win 5. June 11, 2006 ITF Hilton Head, US Hard Madison Brengle 6–3, 6–2Loss 2. November 19, 2006 ITF Lawrenceville, US Hard Stéphanie Dubois 3–6, 6–7(6–8)Win 6. February 4, 2007 ITF Palm Desert, US Hard Angelique Kerber 6–1, 6–0Win 7. April 29, 2007 ITF Sea Island, US Clay Anda Perianu 6–3, 6–2Win 8. October 21, 2007 ITF Lawrenceville, US Hard Angela Haynes 7–6(8–6), 6–4Win 9. September 21, 2008 ITF Albuquerque, US Hard Rossana de los Ríos 6–4, 7–6(7–3)Loss 3. October 19, 2008 ITF Lawrenceville, US Hard Shenay Perry 1–6, 3–6Loss 4. November 9, 2008 ITF Auburn, US Hard Edina Gallovits 0–6, 7–6(9–7), 5–7Loss 5. November 16, 2008 ITF San Diego, US Hard Edina Gallovits 6–4, 3–6, 2–6

Doubles: 52 (30 titles, 22 runner-ups) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 1. August 8, 1999 ITF Harrisonburg, United States Hard Wang I-ting Amanda Augustus Amy Jensen 7–5, 3–6, 2–6Win 1. July 1, 2001 ITF Edmond, United States Hard Michelle Dasso Ilke Gers Tracey O'Connor 6–4, 7–5Loss 2. August 5, 2001 Lexington Challenger, United States Hard Milagros Sequera Lisa McShea Nana Miyagi 0–6, 4–6Loss 3. July 7, 2002 ITF Waco, United States Hard Michelle Dasso Marina Bernshtein Neyssa Etienne 4–6, 6–4, 4–6Loss 4. September 22, 2002 ITF Greenville, United States Clay Michelle Dasso Jennifer Radman Brooke Skeen 6–4, 5–7, 3–6Win 2. September 29, 2002 ITF Raleigh, United States Clay Michelle Dasso Erica Krauth Vanesa Krauth 7–6(4), 6–3Win 3. October 6, 2002 ITF Winter Park, United States Clay Michelle Dasso Marilyn Baker Ioana Plesu 6–2, 6–1Loss 5. April 27, 2003 Dothan Classic, United States Clay Varvara Lepchenko Milagros Sequera Christina Wheeler 7–5, 1–6, 2–6Loss 6. May 18, 2003 ITF Charlottesville, U.S. Clay Christina Wheeler Bethanie Mattek Lilia Osterloh 5–7, 1–6Win 4. June 29, 2003 ITF Edmond, United States Hard Kelly McCain Angela Haynes Jacqueline Trail 6–3, 6–3Win 5. August 3, 2003 ITF Louisville, United States Hard Lisa McShea Teryn Ashley Shenay Perry 7–6(4), 6–7(5), 6–3Loss 7. January 25, 2004 ITF Boca Raton, United States Hard Allison Bradshaw Peng Shuai Xie Yanze 1–6, 2–6Win 6. February 1, 2004 ITF Boca Raton, United States Hard Allison Bradshaw Natallia Dziamidzenka Sania Mirza 6–3, 6–1Loss 8. April 4, 2004 ITF Augusta, United States Hard Jessica Lehnhoff Francesca Lubiani Mashona Washington 1–6, 3–6Loss 9. July 25, 2004 ITF Schenectady, United States Hard Ansley Cargill Casey Dellacqua Nicole Sewell 6–3, 6–7(2), 2–6Win 7. August 8, 2004 ITF Louisville, United States Hard Edina Gallovits Claire Curran Natalie Grandin 1–6, 6–4, 6–2Win 8. October 10, 2004 ITF Lafayette, United States Clay Kristen Schlukebir Natalie Grandin Arpi Kojian 6–2, 7–5Win 9. January 16, 2005 ITF Tampa, United States Hard Vladimíra Uhlířová Cory Ann Avants Kristen Schlukebir 6–1, 6–2Win 10. January 23, 2005 ITF Miami, United States Hard Vladimíra Uhlířová Mélanie Marois Sarah Riske 6–3, 2–6, 7–6(3)Win 11. February 6, 2005 ITF Rockford, United States Hard (i) Vladimíra Uhlířová Joana Cortez Svetlana Krivencheva 3–6, 7–5, 7–5Loss 10. April 24, 2005 Dothan Classic, United States Clay Vladimíra Uhlířová Carly Gullickson Galina Voskoboeva 6–4, 1–6, 2–6Win 12. June 12, 2005 ITF Allentown, United States Hard Ansley Cargill Cory Ann Avants Kristen Schlukebir 6–2- 6–3Loss 11. July 17, 2005 ITF Louisville, United States Hard Teryn Ashley Natallia Dziamidzenka Anda Perianu 5–7, 6–2, 4–6Win 13. September 26, 2005 ITF Albuquerque, United States Hard Milagros Sequera Romana Tedjakusuma Napaporn Tongsalee 6–3, 6–7(6), 7–6(2)Win 14. October 9, 2005 ITF Troy, United States Hard Milagros Sequera Salome Devidze Mandy Minella 6–2, 6–2Loss 12. January 29, 2006 ITF Waikoloa, United States Hard Lilia Osterloh Chan Chin-wei Marie-Ève Pelletier 5–7, 6–4, 2–6Win 15. February 24, 2006 ITF St. Paul, United States Hard (i) Milagros Sequera Eva Hrdinová Michaela Paštiková 4–6, 7–6(5), 6–2Loss 13. June 11, 2006 ITF Hilton Head, United States Hard Ansley Cargill Christina Fusano Raquel Kops-Jones 6–7(6), 4–6Loss 14. June 18, 2006 ITF Allentown, United States Hard Ansley Cargill Carly Gullickson Tetiana Luzhanska 3–6, 4–6Win 16. August 20, 2006 Bronx Open, United States Hard Natalie Grandin Lucie Hradecká Michaela Paštiková 6–1, 7–6(2)Win 17. September 24, 2006 ITF Albuquerque, United States Hard Milagros Sequera Christina Fusano Aleke Tsoubanos 6–1, 6–4Win 18. October 1, 2006 ITF Ashland, United States Hard Milagros Sequera Ashley Harkleroad Ágnes Szávay 6–3, 5–7, 6–2Win 19. October 22, 2006 Houston Challenger, United States Hard Tetiana Luzhanska Laura Granville Carly Gullickson 6–4, 4–6, 7–5Win 20. November 19, 2006 ITF Lawrenceville, United States Hard Leanne Baker Christina Fusano Aleke Tsoubanos 7–6(5), 6–4Loss 15. January 27, 2007 ITF Waikoloa, United States Hard Līga Dekmeijere Natalie Grandin Raquel Kops-Jones 0–6, 3–6Win 21. February 4, 2007 ITF Palm Desert, United States Hard Edina Gallovits Natalie Grandin Raquel Kops-Jones 6–2, 6–1Win 22. March 25, 2007 ITF Redding, United States Hard Chan Chin-wei Jorgelina Cravero Hsieh Su-wei 6–3, 6–2Loss 16. August 4, 2007 ITF Washington, United States Hard Natalie Grandin Jorgelina Cravero Betina Jozami 6–1, 1–6, 2–6Loss 17. August 18, 2007 Bronx Open, United States Hard Raquel Kops-Jones Lucie Hradecká Urszula Radwańska 2–6, 4–6Loss 18. October 21, 2007 ITF Lawrenceville, U.S. Hard Leanne Baker Stéphanie Dubois Alisa Kleybanova 2–6, 0–6Win 23. June 6, 2008 Surbiton Trophy, England Grass Abigail Spears Sarah Borwell Elizabeth Thomas 7–6(2), 6–2Win 24. September 21, 2008 ITF Albuquerque, U.S. Hard Carly Gullickson Jorgelina Cravero Betina Jozami 6–3, 6–4Loss 19. September 28, 2008 ITF Ashland, United States Hard Carly Gullickson Līga Dekmeijere Jelena Pandžić 3–6, 6–3, [8–10]Win 25. October 19, 2008 ITF Lawrenceville, United States Hard Carly Gullickson Yayuk Basuki Romana Tedjakusuma 3–6, 6–4, [12–10]Win 26. April 26, 2009 Dothan Classic, United States Hard Carly Gullickson Ekaterina Bychkova Alexandra Panova 2–6, 6–1, [10–6]Win 27. May 2, 2010 ITF Charlottesville, U.S. Clay Carly Gullickson Alexandra Mueller Ahsha Rolle 6–4, 6–3Loss 20. May 9, 2010 ITF Indian Harbour Beach, U.S. Clay Carly Gullickson Christina Fusano Courtney Nagle 3–6, 6–7(4)Win 28. October 9, 2010 ITF Kansas City, U.S. Hard Abigail Spears Lauren Albanese Irina Falconi 6–2, 4–6, [10–3]Loss 21. November 6, 2010 ITF Grapevine, U.S. Hard Chanelle Scheepers Ahsha Rolle Mashona Washington 7–5, 2–6, [9–11]Win 29. February 5, 2011 ITF Rancho Santa Fe, U.S. Hard Mervana Jugić-Salkić Shuko Aoyama Remi Tezuka 6–0, 6–2Win 30. March 5, 2011 ITF Hammond, U.S. Hard Christina Fusano Mervana Jugić-Salkić Melanie South 6–3, 6–3Loss 22. April 30, 2011 ITF Charlottesville, U.S. Clay Carly Gullickson Sharon Fichman Marie-Ève Pelletier 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 Death Julie Ditty died on August 31, 2021, at the age of 42 after battling breast cancer.