FORT WORTH, Texas (August 6, 2017) – The 2017 Fort Worth Pro Tennis Classic $25K Women’s Pro Circuit Event came to an end on Sunday with qualifier and former world No. 158 Katerina Stewart of the United States upending 16-year-old Colombian Emiliana Arango in the singles championship at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on the campus of TCU.
This was the eighth straight victory for Stewart, who only lost 26 games through eight matches on her way to taking her first ITF Pro Circuit singles crown in 2017. This marks the third straight year that a qualifier has gone on to win the singles crown, with Stewart walking away from the tournament with the 50 WTA Tour ranking points and $3,919 in prize money.
In only her third tournament back since taking a year off, Stewart capitalized off of errors by No. 600 ranked Arango as she quickly took a 3-0 lead to start the match. The young Colombian fought back by winning three straight games to put the set back on serve. The two traded games until Stewart was able to break Arango for the second time to take the opening set 6-4.
Taking the momentum from the first set, Stewart ran up to a 3-0 lead to start the second set and never looked back as she won three of the final four games to take the set 6-1 and claim the victory.
Stewart becomes the second straight American and fourth in the last six years to take the singles title in Fort Worth. The 20-year-old unranked player has now won nine ITF Pro Circuit singles title with the last one coming in March of 2016.
Today’s championship match concludes the 2017 Fort Worth Pro Tennis Classic $25K USTA Pro Circuit event. Qualifier Stewart claimed the singles championship, while Giuliana Olmos of Mexico and Ellen Perez of Australia partnered to win the doubles title of Saturday.
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
Sunday, August 6 – RESULTS
Singles – Main Draw Final
Katerina Stewart, United States d. Emiliana Arango, Colombia, 6-4, 6-1