LEXINGTON, August 5, 2017

Two seeded players advanced to the semi-finals of the $75,000 Kentucky Bank Tennis Championships held at the Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center in Lexington on Friday.

The tournament’s number three John Millman rallied past fellow Australian Max Purcell 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. The 28-year-old from Brisbane fired 10 aces and broke serve five times to prevail after two hours and 28 minutes.

Next up for Millman will be Cameron Norrie. The 21-year-old Briton, who captured his maiden ATP Challenger title in Binghamton last week, defeated Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 6-3, 6-2 in 62 minutes.

Fourth seed Michael Mmoh from the United States beat his countryman Daniel Nguyen 7-5, 6-1. The 19-year-old from Florida won 76 per cent of his first service points and 60 per cent of the total points played to seal victory in one hour and 19 minutes.

Mmoh will next play Raymond Sarmiento from the United States. The 25-year-old from Los Angeles upset second favourite Denis Kudla 6-1, 6-3 in only 55 minutes.

Sofia Kenin Clinches USTA Wild Card Challenge

Eighteen-year old Sofia Kenin of Pembroke Pines in Florida clinched a spot in the main draw of the US Open for the third straight year by winning the US Open Wild Card Challenge on Friday.

Kenin, one of the youngest players ranked in the Top 200, at No. 152, clinched the wild card with Amanda Anisimova‘s quarterfinal loss to US-American Emina Bektas at the $60,000 USTA Pro Circuit women’s event in Lexington.

Kenin wins the US Open Wild Card Challenge for the second straight year on the strength of her results at three $60,000 USTA Pro Circuit over the last several weeks. She won the singles title in Stockton, Calif., two weeks ago, then reached the semi-finals in Sacramento last week before outlasting Anisimova this week in Lexington. Kenin will play US-American Robin Anderson in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

RESULTS FRIDAY

Men’s Singles: Quarterfinals

Cameron Norrie (GBR) def. Dominik Koepfer (GER) 6-3, 6-2

[3] John Millman (AUS) def. Max Purcell (AUS) 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2

Raymond Sarmiento (USA) def. [2] Denis Kudla (USA) 6-1, 6-3

[4] Michael Mmoh (USA) def. Daniel Nguyen (USA) 7-5, 6-1

Men’s Doubles: Semifinals

Tom Jomby (FRA)/Eric Quigley (USA) def. Marcos Giron (USA)/Jose Statham (NZL) 6-3, 1-6, 10-6

Alex Bolt/Max Purcell (AUS) def. [3] Luke Bambridge (GBR)/David O’Hare (IRL) 6-3, 1-6, 10-6

Women’s Singles: Quarterfinals

Emina Bektas (USA) def. Amanda Aisimova (USA) 6-4, 6-2

[7] Grace Min (USA) def. Tessah Andrianjafitrimo (FRA) 7-6 (0), 6-4

Vera Lapko (BLR) def. [WC] Allie Kiick (USA) 6-1, 6-4

[2] Sofia Kenin (USA) def. Robin Alexander (USA) 6-7 (2), 6-0, 6-1

Women’s Doubles: Semifinals

[1] Hiroko Kuwata (JPN)/Valeria Savinykh (RUS) def. Jennifer Elie (USA)/Tessah Andrianjafitrimo (FRA) 7-6 (1), 6-4

Priscilla Hob (AUS)/Vera Lapko (BLR) def. Francesca Di Lorenzo/Emina Baktas (USA) 7-6 (1), 6-4