NEW HAVEN, September 8, 2019

On a beautiful day for tennis, semi-final Saturday at the Orcacle Challenger Series New Haven did not disappoint.

The WTA 125K series women’s semi-finals were up first, and US-American upstart Usue Maitane Arconada continued her dominant, yet unexpected run at Yale Tennis Center with a victory over No. 11 seed and former British No. 1 Heather Watson. An in-form Arconada proved too much for Watson, clinching a spot in Sunday’s final with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 win.

In the other semi-final, No. 7 seeded Anna Blinkova from Russia took down US-American favorite Lauren Davis with relative ease, winning 6-2, 6-2.

Made in the US(ue)! 🇺🇸

Arconada knocks off Watson 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 for a final berth at New Haven.#RoadtoIndianWells pic.twitter.com/xps9QIBInH

— Oracle Challenger Series (@OracleChallngrs) September 7, 2019

A win in Sunday’s championship match will be either player’s first career WTA title. “It would be amazing, and I would truly be so grateful to everyone who’s been around in my career and helped me to this point,” Arconada said, as quoted on the Oracle Challenger Series website.

Paul to face Giron in men’s singles final

On the men’s side, the all-US-American clash between No. 6 seed Tommy Paul and unseeded Noah Rubin turned into a tense two-setter, with Paul coming out on top 6-0, 7-6(8) after one hour and 25 minutes and a resurgent effort from Rubin. In the second men’s semi-final, No. 9 seeded Marcos Giron from the United States pulled out a tough victory to upset the No. 3 seed Damir Dzumhur from Bosnia and Herzegovina 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 after two hours and 12 minutes.

Paul packs it in! 🇺🇸

The No. 6 seed grinds past Rubin 6-0, 7-6(8) and will play compatriot Marcos Giron for the men’s title tomorrow afternoon.#RoadtoIndianWells pic.twitter.com/P2zMkFHy8Y

— Oracle Challenger Series (@OracleChallngrs) September 7, 2019

“We’ve helped each other out in practice plenty of times over the summer and we’ve become friends, so there’s not going to be any secrets out there” said Giron about the upcoming final, as quote on the Oracle Challenger Series website.

“Marcos is great everywhere, he’s got a tremendous serve, hits the ball fast and has had a really good year in all the tournaments,” Paul added.

Doubles champions crowned

In addition, the men’s and women’s doubles champions were crowned on Saturday, as US-American duo Robert Galloway and Nathaniel Lammons defeated No. 1 seed Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen from Belgium and the No. 2 team of Anna Blinkova and Oksana Kalashnikova knocked off US-Americans Usue Maitane Arconada and Jamie Loeb to take the women’s title.