FORT WORTH, Texas (August 6, 2016) – Chieh-Yu Hsu of Taiwan and Chanel Simmonds of South Africa were crowned the doubles champions at the 2016 Fort Worth Pro Tennis Classic $25K Women’s Pro Circuit Event on Saturday at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on the campus of TCU.
The duo upended the only seeded team left in the tournament with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over the No. 3 team of Jacqueline Cako and Danielle Lao of the United States. Hsu and Simmonds were dominant in the opening set, as they easily took all six games to win it 6-0. Cako and Lao got on the board to open the second set, but a late break proved to be costly as Simmonds served out the set to take the match in straight sets.
Saturday also saw the singles semifinal matches take place with a qualifier making an appearance in the final for the third time in the last five years. Tennessee graduate Caitlin Whoriskey of the United States went toe-to-toe in an almost three-hour match with UCLA graduate and wild card Chanelle Van Nguyen of the United States and came out on top in the three-set battle. Whoriskey broke Van Ngyuen to take the opening set, 7-5, before falling 6-4 in the second set. The No. 1 seed in qualifying, Whoriskey opened the final set up 2-0 and never looked back as she took the final set, 6-2, and advanced to her second $25K singles final this year.
Whoriskey will meet the only seeded player left in the draw in No. 2 seed and No. 189 Tara Moore of Great Britain. Moore had an easier semifinal and was able to put away No. 3 seed No. 205 Mayo Hibi of Japan, 6-2, 6-4. Moore will be making her second appearance in a singles final this year after taking the crown at the $10K Pro Circuit Event in Antalya, Turkey in January.
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 conclude with the singles final on Sunday at 10 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
Saturday, August 6 – RESULTS
Singles – Main Draw Semifinal
Tara Moore, Great Britain (2), d. Mayo Hibi, Japan (3), 6-2, 6-4
Caitlin Whoriskey, United States d. Chanelle Van Nguyen, United States, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
Doubles – Main Draw Final
Chieh-Yu Hsu, Taiwan/Chanel Simmonds, South Africa d. Jacqueline Cako/Danielle Lao, United States (3), 6-0, 6-4