FORT WORTH, Texas (August 5, 2016) – The doubles final has been set and two of the top three seeds in singles remain alive in the main draw, as day six of the 2016 Fort Worth Pro Tennis Classic $25K Women’s Pro Circuit Event wrapped up at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on the campus of TCU.
For the second straight season and third time in the last four years, the singles final will feature a qualifier or wild card from the tournament. UCLA graduate Chanelle Van Nguyen of the United States, who earned the wild card into the main draw, was the first player into the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. No. 387 Chanel Simmonds of South Africa. She will face the lone qualifier left in the main draw in No. 474 Caitlin Whoriskey of the United States. Whoriskey, a Tennessee graduate, was able to defeat the youngest player still left in the draw in 16-year-old American Kayla Day, 6-3, 6-4.
The final two seeded players in the main draw of singles were also victorious on Friday as No. 3 seed and No. 208 Mayo Hibi of Japan was able to put away Jacqueline Cako of the United States, 6-2, 6-3. She will face No. 2 seed and No. 194 Tara Moore of Great Britain who wrapped up singles action at the tournament on Friday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over another American teen in Usue Arconada of the United States.
In doubles action, Chieh-Yu Hsu and Simmonds secured their spot in the finals on Saturday by upsetting the No. 4 seed of Alison Bai of Australia and Keri Wong of the United States, 7-6(2), 6-4. The duo will face the only seeded team left in the draw in the No. 3 pair of Cako and Danielle Lao of the United States. The duo were victorious over the No. 2 seed of Whoriskey and Ashley Weinhold, 7-5, 6-1, and will be making their second appearance in a Pro Circuit doubles final after taking the crown together at the Surprise Tennis Classic in Arizona in February.
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 Saturday 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
Friday, August 5 – RESULTS
Singles – Main Draw Quarterfinal
Chanelle Van Nguyen, United States d. Chanel Simmonds, South Africa, 6-1, 6-4
Caitlin Whoriskey, United States d. Kayla Day, United States, 6-3, 6-4
Mayo Hibi, Japan (3), d. Jacqueline Cako, United States, 6-2, 6-3
Tara Moore, Great Britain (2), d. Usue Arconada, United States, 6-4, 6-4
Doubles – Main Draw Semifinal
Chieh-Yu Hsu, Taiwan/Chanel Simmonds, South Africa d. Alison Bai, Australia/Keri Wong, United States (4), 7-6(2), 6-4
Jacqueline Cako/Danielle Lao, United States d. Ashley Weinhold/Caitlin Whoriskey, United States (2), 7-5, 6-1