No. 4 seed Guiliana Olmos of Mexico prepares to return a shot during Monday's play in the qualifying draw of the RBC Pro Challenge at Tyler Athletic & Swim Club.Courtesy Photo

Match play kicked off on Monday with the qualifying draw to earn a spot into the main draw of the third annual $80,000 RBC Pro Challenge, a USTA Pro Circuit event, at Tyler Athletic & Swim Club.

In a day of upsets, American Katharine Fahey defeated seeded Italian Biana Turati in a thrilling three-set match. Third-seeded Hanna Chang fell in three sets to fellow American Amy Zhu.

The match of the day came as two Americans faced off on center court as the sun set and the crowd grew. Seeded fifth in the qualifying draw, Kayla Day walked away with the win, defeating Anastasia Nefedova.

“It was a really long and competitive match and it feels good to get the win. We both had chances to win and it makes it that much better when it is such a close fight,” Kayla Day said upon clinching the match at 5-7, 6-1, (14-12).

RBC Pro Challenge wild card and 2019 NCAA Singles Champion Estela Perez-Somarriba defeated seeded American Claire Liu to advance to the second round of the qualifying draw on Tuesday, where she will face American Chanelle Van Nguyen.

In other tennis news, 2018 RBC Pro Challenge semifinalist Belinda Bencic of Switzerland advanced to the WTA Finals, a tournament of the Women’s Tennis Association played annually at the end of the season for the top-ranked professional players, before falling to top-ranked Ashleigh Barty of Australia on Sunday. Last year, Bencic was upset by eventual RBC Pro Challenge winner, American Whitney Osuigwe, in the semifinals. Osuigwe is back in Tyler this year, competing to reclaim her title and playing Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. on center court.

Play continues at 10 a.m. Tuesday with first-round main draw singles and doubles action and second-round qualifying draw singles. All matches are free and open to the public through Thursday.

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RBC Pro Challenge

A USTA Pro Circuit Event

Monday, Oct. 27

Tyler Athletic & Swim Club

Tyler 

Purse: $80,000

Surface: Hard-Outdoor

Monday Results

Qualifying Draw Singles 

Ellie Douglas (USA) def. Elizabeth Mandlik (USA), 6-2, 7-5

Lorraine M. Guillermo (USA) def. (7) Sophie Chang (USA), 6-4, 7-5

(12) Paige Hourigan (New Zealand) def. Sarah Beth Grey (Great Britain), 7-5, 6-2

Katharine Fahey (USA) def. (6) Bianca Turati (Italy), 4-6, 6-3, 10-4

(4) Giuliana Olmos (Mexico) def. Marine Partaud (France), 6-4, 7-5

Sanaz Marand (USA) def. (11) Alycia Parks (USA), 6-4, 6-4

Vladica Babic (Montenegro) def. (13) Angelina Gabueva (Russia), 6-2, 7-6 (3)

Amy Zhu (USA) def. (3) Hanna Chang (USA), 1-6, 6-3, 10-7

Jacqueline Cako (USA) def. (14) Monika Kilnarova (Czech Republic), 6-3, 6-4

(2) Stephanie Wagner (Germany) def. Alicia Barnett (Great Britain), 6-1, 6-4

(15) Sophia Whittle (USA) def. Andrea Renee Villarreal (Mexico), 6-2, 7-6 (3)

(10) Marcela Zacarias (Mexico) def. Liga Dekmeijere (Latvia), 6-2, 2-4

(5) Kayla Day (USA) def. Anastasia Nefedova (USA), 5-7, 6-1, 14-12

Estela Perez-Somarriba (Spain) def. (9) Claire Liu (USA), 6-7 (1), 6-4, 10-2

Chanelle Van Nguyen (USA) def. (8) Chieh-Yu Hsu (Taiwan), 6-4, 6-2

Tuesday Schedule

Qualifying (WSQ) and Main Draw (WS/WD) Singles and Doubles

Center Court, starting at 10 a.m.

WSQ: (2) Stephanie Wagner (Germany) vs. Jacqueline Cako (USA), followed by

WSQ: Amy Zhu (USA) vs. Sanaz Marand (USA), followed by

WS: (1) Astra Sharma (Australia) vs. Alexa Glatch (USA), followed by

WD: Alicia Barnett (Great Britain)/Stephanie Wagner (Germany) vs. Usue Maitane Arconada (USA)/Jamie Loeb (USA)

WS: Ellen Perez (Australia) vs. (4) Whitney Osuigwe (USA), NOT BEFORE 5:30 p.m.

Court 7 – starting at 10 a.m.

WSQ: (4) Giuliana Olmos (Mexico) vs. Vladica Babic (Montenegro), followed by

WSQ: (1) Jodie Anna Burrage (Great Britain) vs. (15) Sophia Whittle (USA), followed by

WS: Mayo Hibi (Japan) vs. (7) Ann Li (USA), followed by

WD: Liga Dekmeijere (Latvia)/Maria Kononova (Russia) vs. Jacqueline Cako (USA)/Angelina Gabueva (Russia)

Court 1 – starting at 10 a.m.

WSQ: Katharine Fahey (USA) vs. Ellie Douglas (USA), followed by

WSQ: Kayla Day vs. (10) Marcela Zacarias (Mexico), followed by

WS: Danielle Lao (USA) vs. Gabriela Talaba (Romania), followed by

WS: Irina Falconi (USA) vs. Mandy Minelal (Luxembourg)

Court 2 – starting at 10 a.m.

WSQ: Lorraine M. Guillermo (USA) vs. (12) Paige Hourigan (New Zealand), followed by

WSQ: Van Nguyen (USA) vs. Estela Perez-Somarriba, followed by

WS: (5) Stefanie Voegele (Switzerland) vs. Johanna Larsson (Sweden)