LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS OPEN – Update

Written by: Resendiz on 30th September 2011

LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS OPEN - Update |

Chalk it up as a “21-year-old thing” but Jamie Hampton just couldn’t resist giving the old $1 slot machine a few tugs on her first visit to Las Vegas.

“I’m down $34 right now,” said Hampton, 21, one of four Americans who moved into the quarterfinals on Thursday at the third annual Lexus of Las Vegas Open, a $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit event, taking place at the Red Rock Country Club in Summerlin. “It’s a 21-year-old thing, I guess. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just went down there and started pressing buttons and it was gone.”

She admitted she didn’t mess around with the nickels or even quarter slots at the Suncoast Casino where the players are staying. “Straight to dollars,” she said. “I figured I’d start big.”

Lucky for Hampton, her forehand, backhand and first serve were going “cha-ching” Thursday as she pulled away from Sessil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan after a tight first set to seal the victory, 7-6 (4), 6-2. Hampton next moves into Friday’s quarterfinals against Japan’s Kurumi Nara, who took out defending champion and No. 3 seed Varvara Lepchenko of Allentown, Pa., 6-3, 6-0.

Meanwhile, American wild cards Maria Sanchez and Allie Will continued there impressive runs in Las Vegas, and Pro Circuit veteran Alexa Glatch joined Hampton in the final eight. Sanchez beat 17-year-old qualifier Krista Hardebeck, 6-3, 6-2.

Will, a Florida Gator, toppled No. 6 seed Edina Gallovits-Hall of Romania, 7-5, 4-1 retired. Glatch came back to beat Timea Babos of Hungary, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.

This is the best run Sanchez has experienced in a USTA Challenger event, and she knows she’ll have her hands full against Glatch in the quarters. “I’m trying not to think about the fact that I’m a wild card and may not have as much experience out here as the others,” Sanchez said.

Hampton owns two careers wins over Nara in their only two meetings, including a key win over the Japanese Fed Cup player last year in the finals of the Grapevine, Texas, Challenger.

“I’m really not playing my best tennis right now,” Hampton said. “Mentally I could be a little more focused. But I’m really happy to be into the quarterfinals.”

Follow on Twitter for live results at @lvprocircuit. Also, visit the tournament website at: www.lexuslvopen.com.

The Lexus of Las Vegas sponsors include: Lexus of Las Vegas (title), Nevada Orthopedic and Spine Center (presenting), Gold sponsors: Neil Fineman Executive Wealth Strategies, Hand Surgery Specialists of Nevada, Cox Communications, Marquis and Aurbach Attorneys at Law, AceBuilder, San Pelligrino, Acqua Panna and Perrier water; Silver sponsors: USTA Nevada, IMI Marketing, 10sBalls.com, Galen Schutt Attorney At Law, New Belgium Brewery, Ryan Wolfington and American Printing. The tournament is powered by CourtThink and Agent Atleta.

Thursday’s Second-Round Singles Scores

(wc: wild card; q: qualifier)

Jamie Hampton (8), U.S., def. Sessil Karatantcheva, Kazakhstan, 7-6 (4), 6-2

Anna Tatishvili (2), Georgia, def. Vasilia Bardina (q), Russia, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2

Regina Kulikova, Russia def. Valeria Savinykh (7), Russia, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2

Maria Sanchez (wc), U.S., def. Krista Hardebeck (q), 6-3, 6-2

Alexa Glatch, U.S., def. Timea Babos (Hungary), 2-6, 6-2, 6-2

Allie Will (wc), U.S., def. Edina Gallovits-Hall (6), Romania, 7-5, 4-1, ret.

Romina Oprandi (1), Italy def. Camila Giorgi, Italy, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5

Thursday’s Second-Round Doubles Scores

Alexa Glatch, U.S.-Mashona Washington (3), U.S., def. Alison Riske, U.S.-Ashley Weinhold, U.S., 6-2, 7-5

Macall Harkins, U.S.-Ahsha Rolle, U.S., def. Shelby Rogers, U.S.-Allie Will, U.S. (wc), 7-5, 7-5