Semi-finals await for grass champs

HIGH quality tennis action has already been taking place in Sunraysia this week, even before the Mildura International Pro Tour event begins on Sunday.

Some of best players from around the country and beyond have taken to the Mildura Lawn Tennis Club for the 25k Victorian Grasscourt Championships.

Semi finals in the singles brackets are set to take place today, with the top four seeds in the women’s singles draw have all made it though to the final four with only one set dropped between them.

Top seed Alicia Smith from Queensland is set to match-up with emerging 18-year-old fourth seed Sarah Rokusek out of Sydney.

Smith has conceded just 14 games compared to her 37 wins, her closest contest coming against sixth seed Jelena Cvijanovic in Thursday’s quarter final winning 7-5, 6-3.

Teenager Rokusek didn’t have it all her own way in the quarter final with fifth seed Laquisa Khan, but managed a 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 win over about three hours on Thursday.

Second seed New Zealander Monique Barry and third Victorian Belle Thompson, both of whom will feature in next week’s Pro Tour, will match-up in the other semi-final.

Aside from one tie-breaker, Barry has been near flawless over her first three matches, winning her quarter final over South Australian Kristina Tai 6-2, 6-2.

Thomson had to work hard to beat qualifier Megan Markov in the opening round but has been on song since, including a 6-3, 6-4 win over eighth seed Amelia Zylberman.

In the men’s draw, leading seed Josh Charlton is also through to the semis where he is set to face Dane Sweeney, both of whom will fancy their chances in the Pro Tour.

Traralgon native Charlton, who played College tennis at Oregon University, cruised past Noah Brownrigg 6-1, 6-1 to make the final four, while Queensland-based Sweeny, a former Australian junior representative, had to defeated Zach Adam-Gedge 6-3, 7-5, to make it through.

Fourth seed Scott Jones and fifth seed Matthew Hulme will collide in the other semi.

Western Australian Jones, a previous College athlete at the University of Tennessee, has conceded just nine games in his opening three matches, winning 6-1, 6-1 in just over an hour against Jesse Delaney on Thursday.

Hulme hasn’t had it all his way, having to come from a set down in the second round to defeat Jason Pimenta, however his 7-6, 6-3 win over Jason Thompson secured his semi final position.

Doubles action also began Thursday afternoon.

Play is set to resume at 9am today.