Doubles finalists Asia Muhammad and Maria Sanchez
The semifinals are set at the Red Rock Pro Open as three seeded players and a qualifier won quarterfinal matches on Friday at the USTA Women’s $50,000 Pro Circuit event taking place at the Red Rock Country Club.
Two players representing the U.S. were among the winners beating wild card entries as No. 4-seeded Madison Brengle and No. 3 Anna Tatishvili recorded big wins. Brengle beat former world-ranked No. 7 Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-3 while Tatishvili had a tougher time against UCLA sophomore Jennifer Brady, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
Portugal’s Michelle Larcher De Brito, the No. 8-seeded player, ousted No. 2 Timea Babos of Hungary, 6-3, 6-4, while qualifier Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine downed Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan, 6-1, 6-3.
The big points seemed to unnerve Brady down the stretch and her inexperience showed as she led 5-3 in the final set but Tatishvili was able to pull out four consecutive games and win the match. At 40-love serving at 5-all, the reigning Pac-12 singles champion double-faulted twice and Tatishvili took control and the game.
The 28-year-old Bondarenko has turned into the story of the tournament. The mother of 16-month-old Karina, Bondarenko has impressed the Las Vegas fans with a game that once found its way into the world Top 30. She has now won six consecutive matches in Las Vegas, dropping just one set along the way.
Visiting the city of Las Vegas for the first time has been nothing but a positive experience for a player who has won more than $2 million in prize money during her career, and has won one WTA singles title.
“I’m holding up OK physically,” said Bondarenko, who has career wins over Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Elena Dementieva and Li Na. “In a way it’s tougher (having an infant baby here), but then again it’s also nice to be able to relax with her.”
Tatishvili and Larcher De Brito start things off on Saturday at 11 a.m. Tatishvili holds a 2-0 advantage versus the 21-year-old Larcher De Brito, winning once on clay at the WTA level, and once on hard courts in a USTA Challenger.
Brengle and Bondarenko follow and have never faced each other.
In the doubles final it will be local Las Vegas resident Asia Muhammad and former USC All-American Maria Sanchez against Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay and Maria Irigoyen of Argentina on Sunday. The top-seeded team of Muhammad and Sanchez pulled out a spirted 6-7 (6), 6-4, 10-5, win over No. 4-seeded Nicole Melichar and Allie Will, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 10-5.
Both of Saturday’s semifinal matches on Stadium Court are being live streamed and can be viewed here at the Red Rock Pro Open website: http://redrockproopen.com/
The following are Friday’s results and Saturday’s semifinal schedule.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
q: qualifier; wc: wild card
Quaterfinals Singles
Madison Brengle (USA) [4] def. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) [wc], 6-4, 6-3
Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) [q] def. Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ), 6-1, 6-3
Anna Tatishvili (USA) [3] def. Jennifer Brady (USA) [wc], 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Michelle Larcher De Brito (POR) [8] def. Timea Babos (HUN) [2], 6-3, 6-4
Semifinal Doubles
Asia Muhammad (USA) / Maria Sanchez (USA) [1] def. Nicole Melichar (USA) / Allie Will (USA) [4], 6-7 (6), 6-4, 10-5
Veronica Cepede Royg (PAR) / Maria Irigoyen (ARG) [2] def. Louisa Chirico (USA) / Sanaz Marand (USA), 6-3, 7-5
SATURDAY’S SEMIFINAL SINGLES SCHEDULE
Starting at 11 a.m. on Stadium Court
Anna Tatishvili (USA) [3] vs. Michelle Larcher De Brito (POR) [8]
Followed by Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) [q] vs. Madison Brengle (USA) [4]
Below are the attached draws from the Red Rock Pro Open.
Main Draw Singles – click here
Main Draw Doubles – click here
Premier sponsors include: Lotus Broadcasting, Cox Communications, Adidas, WG Communications Group, Storage One, USTA Nevada, Agent Atleta, LLC., Samoa Artesian Water, Marquis Aurbach Coffing, Equilibrium-Vaga, Las Vegas Golf & Leisure, Darren Cahill and 10sBalls.com.
Support sponsors include: Marty Hennessy Foundation, Approach Tennis, Marcy Saxe Realty One, Farmers Insurance agent Richard Sacca, Guild Mortgage Company, Rachel’s Kitchen, Allstate Insurance agent Dwain Frazier, Ryan Wolfington, Raymond James agent Dan Jackson, Northern Trust, The Massage Advantage, Dr. Steve Kozmary.
The Red Rock Pro Open is a USTA women’s $50,000 Pro Circuit Challenger tournament encompassing a 32-player field in singles and 16 doubles teams.
The tournament’s official website is www.RedRockProOpen.com. Follow along on Twitter @RedRockTennis and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/redrockproopen.
About the USTA ……?
About Red Rock Country Club
Red Rock Country Club is nestled beneath a towering red mountain, caressed by cool mountain breezes and offering luxurious amenities in a private haven. The club provides the perfect escape in one of the most breathtaking natural settings in Las Vegas. There are two Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Courses, and another sister course called Siena, designed by master architects Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt. The main clubhouse is the social hub of the club, a 44,000-square-foot area that features the Oasis Grille with an outdoor terrace and spectacular views of the Arnold Palmer courses. The majestic Red Rock Mountains and the lights of the Las Vegas Strip are visible, as well. Private rooms are available for social events, weddings and banquets as well as a stately Board Room with private garden patio for entertaining and private meetings. The tennis complex consists of nine lighted, hard surface tennis courts including an impressive stadium court for competition. The Red Rock Spa offers an array of services designed to make you feel pampered. Members can relax and unwind with a full menu of treatments including massages, facials, body wraps and scrubs, waxing and, our ever popular manicure and pedicure services. Red Rock also offers an athletic center, three swimming pools and spa service
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