FORT WORTH, Texas (July 31, 2018) – The qualifying rounds of singles wrapped up and main draw action in singles and doubles began on Tuesday afternoon at the 2018 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 seeded player on the qualifying draw, Paige Hourigan of New Zealand, was first off the court as the former Georgia Tech All-American breezed past Jessica Hinojosa Gomez of Mexico, 6-4, 6-1. No. 2 seed and top junior player Alexa Ryngler of the United States had to battle back from dropping the first set to get into the main draw with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Andie K. Daniell of the United States.
The six other players getting a spot in the main draw are all current or former NCAA collegiate student-athletes with five of the six hailing from the United States. Baylor graduate, Rhiann Newborn of the United States, got the biggest upset of the day with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over No. 3 seed Salome Devidze of Georgia.
The main draw for singles also got under way as top American junior player, incoming Duke freshman and No. 4 seed Maria Mateas taking out Chieh-Yu Hsu of Chinese Taipei, 7-5, 7-6 (6). Former Pepperdine All-American Lorraine Guillermo of the United States was able to make quick work of the No. 4 ranked junior player for the 2019 class, Hurricane Tyra Black, 7-6 (5), 6-0 while the other two main draw matches were able to finish in straight sets as well. Dominique Schaefer of Peru picked up a 6-4, 6-3 win over Ayaka Okuno of Japan and Maria Jose Portillo Ramirez of Mexico was able to defeat Nagi Hanatani of Japan, 6-3, 6-4.
Doubles action in the main draw also kicked off on Tuesday with the top two seeds securing easy wins into the next round. The No. 1 seed of Okuno and Olivia Tjandramulia of Australia took out Americans Michaela Gordon and Janice Shin, 6-3, 6-2, while Hsu and Marcela Zacarias of Mexico were able to top local wildcards Chelsea Kung and Gianna Pielet of the United States, 6-3, 6-1.
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 29-Aug. 5. The main draw portion of the tournament will continue on Tuesday 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 $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 39 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
Tuesday, July 31 – RESULTS
Singles – Qualifying Draw Final Round
Rhiann Newborn, United States d. Salome Devidze, Georgia (3), 6-4, 6-1
Paige Hourigan, New Zealand (1) d. Jessica Hinojosa Gomez, Mexico, 6-4, 6-1
Lauren Proctor, United States (8) d. Jeanette Mireles, United States, 7-5, 6-3
McCartney Kessler, United States (10) d. Amy Zhu, United States (7), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Alexa Graham, United States (4) d. Caitlin Bernard, United States, 6-3, 6-2
Alexa Ryngler, United States (2) d. Andie K. Daniell, United States, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Nina Khmelnitckaia, Russia d. Jessica Failla, United States (5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Kelly Chen, United States (9) d. Safiya Carrington, United States (6), 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-1
Singles – Main Draw First Round
Dominique Schaefer, Peru d. Ayaka Okuno, Japan, 6-4, 6-3
Maria Jose Portillo Ramirez, Mexico d. Nagi Hanatani, Japan, 6-3, 6-3
Lorraine Guillermo, United States d. Hurricane Tyra Black, United States, 7-6 (5), 6-0
Maria Mateas, United States (4) d. Chieh-Yu Hsu, Chinese Taipei, 7-5, 7-6 (6)
Doubles – Main Draw First Round
Ayaka Okuno, Japan/Olivia Tjandramulia, Australia (1) d. Michaela Gordon/Janice Shin, United States, 6-3, 6-2
Pamela Chen, United States/Paige Hourigan, New Zealand d. Nastja Kolar, Slovakia/Alexandra Riley, United States, 5-7, 6-2, 10-4
Pamela Montez/Madison Westby, United States d. McCartney Kessler/Lauren Proctor, United States, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 10-7
Chieh-Yu Hsu, Chinese Taipei/Marcela Zacarias, Mexico (2) d. Chelsea Kung/Gianna Pielet, United States, 6-3, 6-1