FORT WORTH, Texas (August 2, 2017) – For the first time in the 10 years of the tournament, rain delayed the start of action for over seven hours as main draw singles went late into the night on Wednesday at the 2017 Fort Worth Pro Tennis Classic $25K Women’s Pro Circuit Event at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on the campus of TCU.
The top two seeds in the main draw of singles were able to pick up straight set wins in their first round matches to move into the Round of 16 at the tournament. No. 1 seed and No. 273 Miharu Imanishi of Japan breezed by qualifier Victoria Flores of the United States, 6-1, 6-0. No. 2 seed and No. 294 An-Sophie Mestach of Belarus dominated No. 799 Ingrid Neel of the United States, 6-1, 6-1. The No. 5 and No. 6 seeds were also able to move on as defending Fort Worth doubles champion Chanel Simmonds of South Africa got the 6-2, 6-2 win over Storm Sanders of Australia while Mai Minokoshi of Japan came back from a first-set loss to down Andie K. Daniell of the United States, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
All eight qualifiers plus one lucky loser saw their first action in the main draw in singles on Wednesday with five of them coming out victorious and into the next round. Young Peruvian teen Dominique Schaefer pulled off the biggest upset of the day as she took out No. 3 seed and No. 328 ranked Tammi Patterson of Australia 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Former world No. 158 Katerina Stewart of the United States scored her fourth straight win with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over American teen Maria Mateas.
Two former collegiate players are also into the next round of main draw singles with Pepperdine graduate Lorraine M. Guillermo of the United States able to put out current Georgia student-athlete Ellen Perez of Australia 7-5, 6-2. In the last match of the day, USC graduate Giuliana Olmos of Mexico used a tiebreaking come back in the second set to upset No. 4 seed and No. 336 Mari Osaka of Japan 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2.
Due to a seven-hour rain delay, the main draw doubles matches were cancelled on Wednesday with doubles action resuming after singles on Thursday.
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 30-Aug. 6. The main draw portion of the tournament will continue on Thursday with matches beginning 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 $15,000 to $125,000, 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 38 years ago 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 more than $3 million in prize money. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries competed in cities nationwide. Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, John Isner, Sloane Stephens, Kei Nishikori, Victoria Azarenka, and Sam Querrey and are among today’s top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.
By Abby Norman
Tournament Press Aid
Wednesday, August 2 – RESULTS
Singles – Main Draw First Round
Jada Robinson, United States d. Victoria Emma, United States, 6-1, 6-3
Emiliana Arango, Colombia d. Alexa Graham, United States, 7-5, 7-5
Lorraine M. Guillermo, United States d. Ellen Perez, Australia, 7-5, 6-2
Lauren Proctor, United States d. Kimberly Birrell, Australia, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0
Jessica Failla, United States d. Ellie Douglas, United States, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Marcela Zacarias, Mexico d. Ayaka Okuno, Japan, 6-3, 6-4
Mai Minokoshi, Japan (5) d. Andie K. Daniell, United States, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
An-Sophie Mestach, Belarus (2) d. Ingrid Neel, United States, 6-1, 6-1
Katerina Stewart, United States d. Maria Mateas, United States, 6-1, 6-2
Dominique Schaefer, Peru d. Tammi Patterson, Australia (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Miharu Imanishi, Japan (1) d. Victoria Flores, United States, 6-1, 6-0
Chanel Simmonds, South Africa (6) d. Storm Sanders, Australia, 6-2, 6-2
Giuliana Olmos, Mexico d. Mari Osaka, Japan (4), 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-