PETE ZIEBRON in FOUNTAIN HILLS
One of CopperWynd's practice courts in use prior to first ball this morning. Pete Ziebron Images
The inaugural CopperWynd Women's Pro Challenge got underway this morning at 9:30 AM under a bright blue sky in Fountain Hills, Arizona. The event marked the return of professional tennis to Arizona in November for the first time since 2012 when the Goldwater Classic held at the Phoenix Country Club ended its four year run. Now, Cliff Drysdale Tennis has brought a $50K ITF Women's Circuit event back to Arizona at the CopperWynd Resort & Club.
Austrian Barbara Haas, the top seed in the qualifying draw, needed an hour and forty-five minutes to eliminate American Jamie Loeb 6-3 6-2 on Court 1. Concurrent to action on the main court, Francoise Abanda of Canada steadier her game midway through the opening set, coming from a break down to eliminate hard hitting American Brynn Boren 7-5 6-1 on Court 3.
Top seed Barbara Haas advances to the 2nd round of qualifying. Pete Ziebron Images
Francoise Abanda charges into the second round of qualifying and will face the top seed next. Pete Ziebron Images
Meanwhile, spectators could continue walking past Court 3 and be able to watch two additional matches on Courts 7 & 8. The sunken outer courts provide a unique vantage point for tennis fans to view matches simultaneously. Just to the immediate left, two practice courts were in use all day by players in the main draw who wanted to get accustomed to the conditions, speed of the courts and the Fountain Hills altitude.
Action on sunken Courts 7 & 8 can be watched concurrently at CopperWynd. Pete Ziebron Images
The match of the day featured 16 year-old American Michaela Gordon defeating #3 seed Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania 6-4 6-7(2) 6-3 in 3 hours and 21 minutes. Despite squandering several break point opportunities in the eighth game of the final set, Gordon ultimately broke and then served out the match to advance to the next round where she will face Angelina Zhuravleva of Russia.
Young American Michaela Gordon upsets the #3 seed in the opening round of qualifying. Pete Ziebron Images
The opening day of the tournament concluded on Court 3 as daylight turned into twilight and ultimately dusk as #7 seed Ana Sofia Sanchez of Mexico defeated Piia Suomalainen of Finland 3-6 6-4 7-5 in 2 hours and 32 minutes. There were 16 breaks of serve in the match and #17 nearly occurred as Sanchez served for the match and fell behind 0-40. After saving those 3 break points, Sanchez rallied to save yet another before ultimately closing out the match.
Qualifying matches continue on Monday morning featuring #1 seed Barbara Haas taking on Francoise Abanda on Court 1 at 10 AM.
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