CHARLESTON, S.C./WASHINGTON, March 12, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
Rebeka Masarova of Spain scored her biggest win of the season during the WTA’s Fifth Third Charleston 125 at LTP Mount Pleasant Monday afternoon.
The 96th-ranked Spaniard came from 0-3 down in the third set to upset No. 2 Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, in two hours and 30 minutes to advance to the second round.
In garnering her fifth win of the 2024 season, Masarova, 24, struck six aces, won 59 percent of her first-serve points, saved nine of 15 break points she faced and converted eight of 15 break points against the 48th-ranked Dutchwoman, who won just 49 percent of her first-serve points. Rus, 33, who has lost five straight matches, fell to 6-8. Masarova outpointed Rus 107-95.
Next, Masarova will play No. 92 Emina Bektas of the United States, who defeated fellow American Maria Mateas, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, in an hour and 55 minutes. Bektas outpointed the 266th-ranked wild card 82-62.
Martina Trevisan (photo: Fifth Third Charleston 125)
Also advancing was No. 3 seed Martina Trevisan of Italy, who came back from a set down against No. 101 Renata Zarazua of Mexico to win 12 of the final 16 games and advance with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory, in two hours and three minutes. The win snapped a four-match losing streak for Trevisan and it was the second time this year she’s come back to win after losing the first set. The first time came during the first round of the Australian Open, when Trevisan beat Zarazua, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
“That was a match at the Grand Slam tournament, and that was our first round today,” said Patrick Hieber, tournament director and general manager for LTP Academy, a premier tennis academy hosting this week’s WTA 125. “It shows you just how strong this tournament is.”
This time, the 59th-ranked Trevisan won 57-percent of her first-serve points, converted eight of 12 break-point chances and outpointed Zarazua 81-73. Her next opponent will be either No. 85 Oceane Dodin of France or 343rd-ranked American wild card Madison Sieg, who play Tuesday.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (photo: Fifth Third Charleston 125)
Meanwhile, No. 97 Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus rallied to beat No. 88 Kayla Day of the United States, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4, in the longest match of the day, two hours and 45 minutes. Sasnovich fired 12 aces, converted eight of 22 break points and outpointed Day 122-116.
Next, Sasnovich will face No. 81 Greet Minnen of Belgium. The unseeded Minnen dispatched No. 8 seed Tamara Korpatsch of Germany, 6-2, 6-4, in an hour and 27 minutes. The Belgian won 55 percent of her return points, converted six of 11 break points and outpointed the 76th-ranked Korpatsch 63-48.
Finally, No. 95 Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia advanced over 257th-ranked American wild card Louisa Chirico, 6-4, 6-4. Next, she will face either No. 5 seed Lin Zhu of China or 123rd-ranked American qualifier McCartney Kessler, who play Tuesday.
Ten singles and two matches are on Tuesday’s order of play at LTP Mount Pleasant beginning at 10 a.m.
Main draw filled out with qualifiers, lucky loser
No. 77 Olivia Gadecki of Australia, No. 98 Erika Andreeva of Russia, No. 107 Marina Bassols Ribera of Spain and No. 123 McCartney Kessler of the United States won their respective second-round qualifying matches on Monday to earn berths in the main draw.
Gadecki defeated unranked Usue Maitane Arconada of the United States, 6-2, 6-1; Andreeva eased past unranked Nadiia Kitchenok of Ukraine, 6-1, 6-4; Bassols Ribera rallied to beat No. 138 Taylah Preston of Australia, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, and Kessler defeated No.120 Mai Hontama of Japan, 6-1, 6-2.
In the first round of the main draw, Gadecki will face No. 82 Jaqueline Cristian of Romania; Andreeva is paired against No. 93 Clara Tauson of Denmark; Bassols Ribera will take on No. 103 Alizé Cornet of France, and Kessler will oppose No. 5 seed Lin Zhu of China.
Meanwhile, Hontama gained a spot in the main draw as a lucky loser and will play No. 6 seed Yafan Wang of China.
Monday’s Fifth Third Charleston 125 results
Tuesday’s Fifth Third Charleston 125 order of play
