THE top-ranked players have proceeded into the semi-finals of the Mildura International tennis Pro Tour event, but the risk of showers and potential thunderstorms have slightly dampened the outlook for Sunday’s finals.
Tennis Australia confirmed there is scope to still play the respective finals if rain arrives, including a later finishing time and even completing matches on Monday, if required.
With the next Pro Tour event in Swan Hill next week, logistics are made far easier with contingency plans.
Singles semi-finalists and doubles finalists are locked in for Saturday’s play at Mildura Lawn Tennis Club.
Women’s top seed Madison Inglis proved too strong for 21-year-old New Zealander Monique Barry, winning 6-1, 6-3 in an hour and 15 minutes.
The 26-year-old from Perth is yet to drop a set for the tournament, conceding more than three games only once.
Inglis will face seventh seed Sakura Hosogi, who won a marathon all-Japanese quarter final against fourth seed Yuki Naito 5-7 7-5 6-2, which lasted two hours and 45 minutes.
Aussie Gabriella Da Silva Fick earned her place in the semi-final by taking down eighth seed Misaki Matsuda of Japan in a strong two-setter.
The South African-born 23-year-old bounced back from a dropped opening set to win the two-hour contest 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Third seed Tina Nadine Smith will be her opponent after the 21-year-old took down fifth seed Lizette Cabrera 7-5, 6-1.
After a first set struggle, the Australian-Swiss dual citizen, who was a finalist in the W50 event in Pune, India earlier this year, took just 40 minutes to complete the second set.
Impressive 17-year-old wildcard Hayden Jones almost produced the biggest upset on the men’s quarter-final card after putting on a strong show against sixth seed Blake Ellis.
Gold Coast-based Jones took the first set in an 8-6 tie break before his more experienced opponent Ellis upped the ante with seven aces in the second set.
Ellis looked in control before Jones bridged the gap in the third set, but after two hours and 18 minutes, the 25-year-old grabbed the 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 victory.
The right-hander from Brisbane faces top seed Alex Bolt in Saturday’s semi-final after he defeated Matt Hulme in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6.
Second seed Luke Saville was pushed hard by big-serving qualifier Josh Charlton, however, the Riverland native moved on to the semi-final with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
Impressive 20-year-old third seed James McCabe will be his semi-final opponent after his quickfire victory over China’s Hanyi Liu 6-3, 6-1.
Hulme recovered from his loss to Bolt to win a thrilling doubles semi-final with James Watt over Saville and Jake Delaney, 6-7, 6-3, 12-10 in a final set tie-breaker.
They will meet second seeds Charlton and Ellis in the final after they defeated Jones and Ajeet Rai 6-2 7-6.
In women’ doubles, Tahlia Kokkinis and Alicia Smith are through to the final, coming back from a set down to defeat fellow Aussies Isabella Crossman and Laquisa Khan 6-7, 6-1, 10-2 in a final set tie-breaker.
They will face the fourth-seeded team Punnin Kovapitukted (Thailand) and Jia-Jing Lu (China) after they defeated Sienna Leeson and Yillin Yan 7-5, 6-1.
