PETE ZIEBRON
Defending Champion Samantha Crawford is back in action this week as the #2 seed at the $50K ITF CopperWynd Classic in Scottsdale, Arizona. Last year, Crawford defeated Swiss Viktorija Golubic to win the innagural event at the gorgeous resort that straddles the border of Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Crawford parlayed her fine form in the desert to a stunning run to the quarterfinals in Brisbane, Australia two months later. The upstart American stormed through the qualifying draw, then defeated world #14 Belinda Bencic in straight sets in the round of 16 and then crushed world #24 Andrea Petkovic 6-3 6-0 to reach the semifinals where she would fall to Victoria Azarenka.
Victoria Golubic also played inspired tennis in 2016 as she won her first WTA title in July, defeating world #26 Kiki Bertens to win in Gstaad. Last month, Golubic reached the final in Linz and lost to eventual WTA Finals Champion Dominika Cibulkova 3-6 5-7 in a very well played match. Golubic is currently world #53.
The #1 seed at the 2016 CopperWynd Women's Pro Challenge is American Nicole Gibbs. Last year, Gibbs fell in the 2nd round to eventual semifinalist Robin Anderson. Earlier this year, Gibbs cruised through the qualifying rounds at Indian Wells and proceeded to defeat then world #24 Madison Keys 6-3 6-3 and ultimately reached the quarterfinals, falling to Petra Kvitova 6-4 3-6 4-6. Gibbs would also record a win over world #29 Kristina Mladenovic the following week in Miami.
The year, the CopperWynd Women's Pro Challenge is working with ACEing Autism, whose impressive Mission Statement reads: Our mission is to connect children with autism through unique tennis programs, and to develop and advance proven methods to positively impact the children, families and communities we serve.
Main Draw action gets underway on Tuesday, November 1.