FORT WORTH, Texas (August 2, 2018) – The top two seeds in the singles main draw along with three other seeded players were upset as day five wrapped up on Thursday 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 No. 1 seed in qualifying and former Georgia Tech All-American Paige Hourigan of New Zealand pulled off a straight-set upset over main draw No. 1 seed Usue Arconada of the United States with a 6-3, 6-3 victory. Another qualifier and former collegiate star at Baylor, Rhiann Newborn of the United States, was able to take out seeded player No. 2, Abbie Myers of Australia, with a 6-0, 7-5 win.
Current NCAA collegiate student-athletes, Alexa Graham and Kelly Chen of the United States, continued the trend of qualifiers picking up victories on Thursday as both took out seeded players. Graham picked up the 6-0, 6-4 win over No. 6 seed Nastja Kolar of Slovakia while Chen upset one of the top junior players in the world, Whitney Osuigwe of the United States, 6-7 (0), 6-2, 6-4.
In doubles action, the top three seeds stayed true to form and will continue into the semifinals tomorrow. The No. 1 seeded pair of Ayaka Okuno of Japan and Olivia Tjandramulia of Australia had to battle back from a first-set loss against the American pair of Robin Anderson and Lorriane Guillermo to get the 2-6, 6-3, 10-3 victory. The No. 2 seeded duo of Chieh-Yu Hsu of Chinese Taipei and Marcela Zacarias of Mexico were able to easily defeat the American pair of Andie K. Daniell and Shelby Talcott, 6-4, 6-2. In the final match on court, Nagi Hanatani and Akiko Omae, the No. 3 seeded pair from Japan, went the distance with Chen and Hourigan and ultimately came out on top with a 7-5, 5-7, 10-6 win.
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 Friday with matches beginning at 9:30 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
Thursday, August 2 – RESULTS
Singles – Main Draw Second Round
Maria Mateas, United States (4) d. Lorraine M. Guillermo, United States, 6-2, 6-2
Dominique Schaefer, Peru d. Olivia Tjandramulia, Australia (7), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Robin Anderson, United States (3) d. Maria Jose Portillo Ramirez, Mexico, 6-2, 7-5
Marcela Zacarias, Mexico (5) d. McCartney Kessler, United States, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
Rhiann Newborn, United States d. Abbie Myers, Australia (2), 6-0, 7-5
Alexa Graham, United States d. Nastja Kolar, Slovakia (6), 6-0, 6-4
Paige Hourigan, New Zealand d. Usue Maitane Arconada, United States (1), 6-3, 6-3
Kelly Chen, United States d. Whitney Osuigwe, United States (8), 6-7 (0), 6-2, 6-4
Doubles – Main Draw Quarterfinals
Pamela Montez/Madison Westby, United States d. Hurricane Tyra Black/Lea Ma, United States, 6-3, 6-2
Ayaka Okuno, Japan/Olivia Tjandramulia, Australia (1) d. Robin Anderson/Lorriane M. Guillermo, United States, 2-6, 6-3, 10-3
Chieh-Yu Hsu, Chinese Taipei/Marcela Zacarias, Mexico (2) d. Andie K. Daniell/Shelby Talcott, United States, 6-4, 6-2
Nagi Hanatani/Akiko Omae, Japan (3) d. Kelly Chen, United States/Paige Hourigan, New Zealand, 7-5, 5-7, 10-6