FORT WORTH, Texas (August 4, 2017) – The doubles final has been set and the top seed in singles remains alive in the main draw, as day six of the 2017 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.
No. 1 seed and No. 273 in the world Miharu Imanishi of Japan was able to get past No. 6 seed Chanel Simmonds of South Africa with a 6-3, 6-2 win. She will face former world No. 158 and the only qualifier left in the main draw in Katerina Stewart of the United States. Stewart was the first match off the courts today as she took the 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 428 Giuliana Olmos of Mexico.
The youngest player still left in the draw, 16-year-old Emiliana Arango of Colombia, made her way into the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-2 win over American Lauren Albanese. Arango moves on to face Evansville $15K finalist Marcela Zacarias of Mexico who upset No. 5 seed and No. 347 Mai Minokoshi of Japan, 6-4, 6-3.
On the doubles side of the draw, the top two seeds are out as seeds three and four will battle it out in the finals. The No. 4 seed of Olmos and Ellen Perez of Australia were the first in as they upset reigning Fort Worth doubles champion Simmonds and partner Tammi Patterson of Australia, 6-3, 6-2. Imanishi will also make an appearance in the doubles final as she and partner Ayaka Okuno were able to upend the top seed in doubles in Alexa Guarachi of Chile and Caitlin Whoriskey of the United States in a tough three-set battle, 6-4, 3-6. 10-7.
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
Friday, August 4 – RESULTS
Singles – Main Draw Quarterfinal
Katerina Stewart, United States d. Giuliana Olmos, Mexico, 6-3, 6-2
Miharu Imanishi, Japan (1) d. Chanel Simmonds, South Africa (6), 6-3, 6-2
Emiliana Arango, Colombia d. Lauren Albanese, United States, 6-1, 6-2
Marcela Zacarias, Mexico d. Mai Minokoshi, Japan (5), 6-4, 6-3
Doubles – Main Draw Semifinal
Giuliana Olmos, Mexico/Ellen Perez, Australia (4) d. Tammi Patterson, Australia/Chanel Simmonds, South Africa (2), 6-2, 6-4
Miharu Imanishi/Ayaka Okuno, Japan (3) d. Alexa Guarachi, Chile/Caitlin Whoriskey, United States (1), 6-4, 2-6, 10-7