LAHAINA, January 29, 2016
The women had a number of exciting matchups at the $50,000 Sportmaster Tennis Championships of Maui on Thursday.
Starting the day off on stadium court, no.2 seed Samantha Crawford took on teen American hopeful, Taylor Townsend. Crawford, who has a career high singles ranking of 107 in the world, started the match strong, breaking Townsend to take the first set. 6-3. Townsend didn’t back down in the second set, breaking Crawford to take back the second set 6-3.
“In the the first set I just wanted to focus on my serve and started the points from there,” Crawford said. “I think in the second set I stopped serving as well and wasn’t moving up to ball and being aggressive.”
The third set was dominated by Crawford where she took an early break. Crawford would eventually take the match over the former world no. 94, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Naomi Broady (photo: Ryan Trujillo/USTA Hawaii)
Another exciting match was between no.3 seed Naomi Broady (GBR) and Magda Linette (POL). Linette was recently announced to be on the roster for the upcoming Fed Cup matchup in Kona, HI between the USA and Poland. Linette, currently ranked 93 in the world, was favored over Broady who holds a current world ranking of 111. Broady would take the match however, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
On the men’s side, top seed Kyle Edmund (GBR) seemed to have an easy time with American Michael Mmoh succeeding him 6-1, 6-0.
The match of the day on the men’s side went to 2015 Maui Challenger finalist, Nicholas Meister (USA) and James McGee (IRL). They matched up last year where Meister bested McGee in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2. The rematch at the Royal Lahaina courts turned out to be an exciting one. Meister, who is once again a qualifier in the tournament, ended up taking the match in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Meister advances to play top seed Kyle Edmund tomorrow.
Taipei’s Jason Jung was ousted by Aussie’s lucky loser, Alex Bolt 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2.
Alex Bolt (photo: Ryan Trujillo/USTA Hawaii)
RESULTS – THURSDAY
Men’s Singles – Second Round
[1] Kyle Edmund (GBR) d [Q] Michael Mmoh (USA) 61 60
[Q] Nicholas Meister (USA) d James McGee (IRL) 46 63 61
[LL] Alex Bolt (AUS) d Jason Jung (TPE) 76(4) 46 62
Di Wu (CHN) d Matteo Donati (ITA) 61 10 Retired
ORDER OF PLAY – FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016
CENTER start 9:00
ITF – R. Kingsley (USA) vs [2] S. Crawford (USA)
ITF – [1] [WC] C. Mchale (USA) vs [6] P. Kania (POL)
ATP – [1] K. Edmund (GBR) vs [Q] N. Meister (USA)
Not Before 17:30
ITF – [1] A. Muhammad (USA) / M. Sanchez (USA) vs J. Cako (USA) / D. Lao (USA)
ATP – [3] J. Duckworth (AUS) vs F. Tiafoe (USA)
COURT 5 start 9:00
ATP – [Q] E. Escobedo (USA) vs [WC] N. Rubin (USA)
ATP – [LL] A. Bolt (AUS) vs D. Wu (CHN)
COURT 1 start 9:00
ITF – [5] J. Pegula (USA) vs M. Sanchez (USA)
ITF – [3] N. Broady (GBR) vs J. Cako (USA)
Not Before 13:00
ITF – After suitable rest – [3] N. Broady (GBR) / P. Kania (POL) vs J. Pegula (USA) / T. Townsend (USA)
