Semifinal Spots Up for Grabs

Four of today’s eight matches went the distance, including Australia’s Kimberly Birrell battling past Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 1-6, 6-2. She now faces second seed, Georgia’s McCartney Kessler, who also came through a tough three-setter, defeating Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Qualifiers Lanlana Tararudee and Emerson Jones continue to impress in Austin. Tararudee next faces Anastasia Zakharova, who dropped just two games on today in a dominant win over Czechia’s Linda Fruhvirtová. Jones, meanwhile, has built plenty of momentum this week. After surviving a three-set battle against Himeno Sakatsume in qualifying, the Australian has since rolled through the draw in straight sets, beating fellow countrywoman Maddison Inglis and Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekić. She now faces former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, who defeated reigning Austin125 champion Renata Zarazúa, for a place in the semifinals.

Spain’s Paula Badosa booked her spot in the quarterfinals after a 6-1, 7-6 win against New Zealand’s Lulu Sun, saving four set points in the second-set tiebreak. She will next face Austria’s Sinja Kraus, who defeated seventh seed Oksana Selekhmeteva in three sets, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.

On the doubles side, Catherine Harrison and Ivana Corley will take on second seeds Hao-Ching Chan and Miyu Kato. Austin local Harrison will have home support behind her as she and Corley look to advance to the semifinals.

Top seeds Tereza Mihalikova and Giuliana Olmos will face a tough test against Isabelle Haverlag and Sabrina Santamaria in the third match on Court 1. Olmos and Santamaria will be on opposite sides of the net, but off the court they are best friends. The match promises to be a fabulous doubles battle.