FORT WORTH, Texas (August 4, 2016) – The top seed in the singles main draw was bounced from the bracket as day five wrapped up on Thursday at the 2016 Fort Worth Pro Tennis Classic $25K Women’s Pro Circuit Event at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on the campus of TCU.
No. 1 seed and No. 137 Elise Mertens of Belgium faced a tough battle from qualifier Caitlin Whoriskey of the United States, with the former Tennessee graduate and No. 474 ranked player coming out on top with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. With the loss by Mertens, the No. 2 seed Tara Moore of the Great Britain and No. 3 seed Mayo Hibi of Japan are the only remaining seeded players in the singles main draw.
Besides Whoriskey, 17-year-old Usue Arconada is the only other qualifier still alive in the main draw. The American teenager was able to quickly take care of No. 326 Elizaveta Ianchuk of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-3, to move into the quarterfinals. Wild card and recent UCLA graduate Chanelle Van Nguyen is the only unranked player still in the draw as she was able to upset No. 345 and recent $10K Austin winner Marcela Zacarias of Mexico, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
On the doubles side of the tournament, all three seeded duos left in the draw were able to pick up victories on Thursday. The No. 2 seeded team of Whoriskey and Ashley Weinhold of the United States had to battle back after dropping the opening set to the qualifying pair of Andie Daniell and Nazari Urbina, 7-5, to win the final two sets, 6-3, 10-5, to move into the semifinals. The No. 3 seeded pair of Jacqueline Cako and Danielle Lao were the only doubles pairing to win in straight sets in the quarterfinals as they downed Lizette Cabrera and Olivia Rogowska of Australia, 6-2, 6-4.
Alison Bai and Keri Wong were the final seeded team to move into the semifinals in doubles as they were able to take down Moore and Lisa Whybourn of Great Britain, 3-6, 7-6(6), 10-7. The semifinals of doubles on Friday will feature three players that are still alive in the main draw of singles – Cako, Whoriskey and Chanel Simmonds of South Africa.
The Fort Worth Pro Tennis Classic $25K USTA Pro Circuit event will be held at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on the campus of TCU from July 31-Aug. 7. The main draw portion of the tournament will continue on Friday with matches beginning at 9 a.m. Professional athletes from around the world will be competing for $25,000 in prize money, as well as valuable WTA Tour Ranking points.
About the USTA Pro Circuit With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. The USTA launched its Pro Circuit in 1979 to provide players with the opportunity to gain professional ranking points, and it has since grown to become the largest developmental tennis circuit in the world, offering nearly $3 million in prize money. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries competed in cities nationwide. Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard, John Isner, Madison Keys, Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, Sam Querrey and Caroline Wozniacki are among today’s top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.
By Abby Norman
Tournament Press Aid
Thursday, August 4 – RESULTS
Singles – Main Draw Second Round
Chanel Simmonds, South Africa d. Chieh-Yu Hsu, Taiwain, 6-3, 6-1
Tara Moore, Great Britain (2), d. Katie Boulter, Great Britain, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
Caitlin Whoriskey, United States d. Elise Mertens, Belgium (1), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Kayla Day, United States d. Danielle Lao, United States, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Jacqueline Cako, United States d. Ashley Weinhold, United States, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Usue Arconada, United States d. Elizaveta Ianchuk, Ukraine, 6-3, 6-3
Chanelle Van Nguyen, United States d. Marcela Zacarias, Mexico, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Mayo Hibi, Japan (3), d. Claire Liu, United States, 7-6(3), 6-3
Doubles – Main Draw Quarterfinals
Chieh-Yu Hsu, Taiwain/Chanel Simmonds, South Africa d. Freya Christie/Laura Robson, Great Britain, 6-2, 4-6, 10-4
Alison Bai, Australia/Keri Wong, United States (4), d. Tara Moore/Lisa Whybourn, Great Britain, 3-6, 7-6(6), 10-7
Jacqueline Cako/Danielle Lao, United States d. Lizette Cabrera/Olivia Rogowska, Australia, 6-2, 6-4
Ashley Weinhold/Caitlin Whoriskey, United States (2), d. Andie Daniell, United States/Nazari Urbina, Mexico, 5-7, 6-3, 10-5