Qualifiers Battle Heat and Each Other at Connecticut Open on Saturday
Haley Hunt for Tennis Atlantic

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New Haven, CT, August 20, 2016–Day 2 of qualifying featured the remaining 6 seeds and extreme temperatures. In a day packed with upsets and drama, only 2 of the seeded players and 3 of the Americans (Louisa Chirico, Kayla Day, Nicole Gibbs) triumphed in their matches (Annika Beck: #2, Anastasjia Sevastova: #5).

Annika Beck edges Danielle Collins: 7-5, 7-5

Annika Beck prepares to return a serve (Photo: Haley Hunt)

Beck was nothing short of consistent when she arrived on court to face wild card Danielle Collins of UVA, who upset Stefanie Voegele the day before. Though the match was separated by just two breaks of serve, Beck proved to be the steadier player throughout. She won 81% of her first serve points, while Collins earned 60%. Collins’ negative display—including one particularly sarcastic remark to herself, “I’m so good at tennis after she committed an unforced error”—did not help her to combat the determined German, who took advantage of the American’s frustration to win the match in just under two hours.

Danielle Collins (Photo: Haley Hunt)

Kayla Day outlasts Kirsten Flipkens: 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

Kayla Day hits a backhand (Photo: Haley Hunt)

Arguably one of the most exciting matches of the day, 16- year-old Day had nothing to lose when she came face-to-face with the world #60. A quick first set—in which she struggled to present a serious threat—left her more determined to match Flipkens’ pace. The players stayed on serve for the majority of the second set, until Day sought a medical timeout at 4-4. Flipkens appeared to ease off on the intensity, giving Day the opportunity she needed to string together several incredible shots and seal the set, 6-4. The following and final set was nothing short of grueling: Day fought through what appeared to be a shoulder injury—receiving visits from the medic during changeovers—while Flipkens struggled to contain her frustration over her diminished consistency. Ultimately, it was Day, the home crowd favorite, fearless and firing, that pulled off the upset, and won the match—on an ace!

Johanna Larsson scorches Varvara Lepchenko: 6-3, 7-5

A match that was controlled primarily by Larsson became increasingly more even in the second set; both players took turns emoting their exhaustion. The winner of the second set would be the player who could maintain her composure and her consistency. However, the match took a turn at 3-6, 5-5 when Lepchenko’s request to change her clothes was declined by the chair umpire. After roughly ten minutes of conversation with the supervisor, the umpire elected to give Lepchenko a code violation, a controversial call indeed, leaving Larsson and her team extremely frustrated. “She was aware of the situation. She knew what would happen if she left the court, and she still did it,” Larsson told the umpire, hopeful that the American would be defaulted from the match. The world #67 was, however, able to gather herself enough to capture the next two games, and propel herself into the next round.

Tomorrow, the final 12 women that remain will compete for the 9 available spots in the main draw.

CT Open – Printable OOP –  Sunday, August 21

CONNECTICUT OPEN PRESENTED BY UNITED TECHNOLOGIES – NEW HAVEN, USA
$761,000
21-27 AUGUST 2016

RESULTS – AUGUST 20, 2016

Women’s
Qualifying Singles – Second Round
Qualifying – [2] A. Beck (GER) d [WC] D. Collins (USA) 75 75
Qualifying – [5] A. Sevastova (LAT) d L. Arruabarrena (ESP) 36 64 61
Qualifying – J. Larsson (SWE) d [7] V. Lepchenko (USA) 63 75
Qualifying – M. Sakkari (GRE) d [8] M. Lucic-Baroni (CRO) 63 64
Qualifying – [WC] K. Day (USA) d [10] K. Flipkens (BEL) 36 64 61
Qualifying – N. Gibbs (USA) d [11] K. Bondarenko (UKR) 31 Retired
Qualifying – [Alt] E. Rodina (RUS) d C. Witthoeft (GER) 63 64
Qualifying – A. Kontaveit (EST) d K. Kozlova (UKR) 62 67(2) 64
Qualifying – L. Tsurenko (UKR) d C. Buyukakcay (TUR) 63 62
Qualifying – L. Chirico (USA) d S. Cirstea (ROU) 64 64
Qualifying – C. Giorgi (ITA) d M. Barthel (GER) 62 62
Qualifying – A. Konjuh (CRO) d N. Hibino (JPN) 36 64 61

ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016
STADIUM start 12:00 noon
[WC] S. Rogers (USA) vs K. Mladenovic (FRA)
S. Errani (ITA) vs E. Makarova (RUS)
[10] E. Svitolina (UKR) vs D. Kasatkina (RUS)
C. Garcia (FRA) vs I. Begu (ROU)

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [Alt] E. Rodina (RUS) vs N. Gibbs (USA)
Qualifying – L. Tsurenko (UKR) vs L. Chirico (USA)
M. Irigoyen (ARG) / O. Kalashnikova (GEO) vs [3] A. Klepac (SLO) / K. Srebotnik (SLO)
G. Dabrowski (CAN) / M. Martínez Sánchez (ESP) vs K. Bertens (NED) / J. Larsson (SWE)

COURT 1 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [2] A. Beck (GER) vs A. Kontaveit (EST)
Qualifying – C. Giorgi (ITA) vs M. Sakkari (GRE)

COURT 2 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [5] A. Sevastova (LAT) vs [WC] K. Day (USA)
Qualifying – A. Konjuh (CRO) vs J. Larsson (SWE)