Stanford grad Kristie Ahn defeated Portugal’s Michelle Larcher de Brito, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, in the opening round of the $50,000 ITF Kentucky Bank Tennis Championships in Lexington and was scheduled to meet Belguim’s Greet Minnen in Thursday’s second round at the University of Kentucky.
The 343rd-ranked Minnen knocked off eighth-seeded and 184th-ranked Russian A Pivovarova, 6-2, 6-1, after earning a spot through the qualifying tournament.
Atherton resident CiCi Bellis, meanwhile, drew top-seed Alison Van Uytvanck in the first round, and dropped a competitive 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 decision to the 116th-ranked Belgium.
Bellis was scheduled to play doubles Thursday, with teammate Jamie Loeb, a former NCAA singles champion. They were to play Americans Sanaz Marand and Melanie Oudin.
Bellis and Loeb advanced into the quarterfinals after beating the second-seeded duo of Ashley Weinhold and Caitlin Whoriskey, 6-4, 0-6, 10-7.
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports