Semifinals set in ‘stacked field’ at WTA 125 Charleston

November 23, 2024

By Jeff Hartsell

MOUNT PLEASANT – The final four players have emerged from a “stacked field” at the Fifth Third Charleston WTA 125 tennis tournament at LTP Mount Pleasant.

Americans Lauren Davis and Hanna Chang fought their way through three sets each in Friday’s quarterfinals. Top seed Renata Zarazua cruised into the semifinals in straight sets, while Italy’s Nuria Brancaccio knocked off No. 5 seed (and doubles partner) Leyre Romero Gormaz.

On a cool, windy day under bright blue skies, adjusting to changing conditions was vital.

“On a day like this, I knew it was going to be tough trying to come out aggressive,” said the 26-year-old Chang, who scored the biggest win of her young career so far with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 victory over fellow American and former WTA top 20 player Varvara Lepchenko.

The two were on court for nearly three hours.

“I knew it would be much slower than normal, and (Lepchenko) is going to make you play more points,” said Chang, who is ranked No. 194. “She doesn’t give you a single free point, so I knew I’d have to play some brave tennis.”

Equally brave was the tennis played by Davis, a 31-year-old American who was ranked as high as No. 26 in the world seven years ago. Qualifier Gabriela Lee served for the match twice before Davis pulled out a 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 victory in two hours and 14 minutes.

“I just told myself that I’d be proud of myself, win or lose,” said Davis, who is coming back from a shoulder injury suffered last year. “And I think that kind of helped me relax a little bit.

“I think I was probably a little too attached to the outcome, and focused on the wind and conditions and stuff, because it was really tricky. But I played a great tiebreak, and I think that also kind of broke her, as well.”

Davis will face Zarazua, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over American Louisa Chirico, in the semis. A 27-year-old from Mexico, Zarazua is the highest ranked player in the field at No. 60, and won two Grand Slam matches this year.

“This tournament has a stacked draw,” said Davis, who has won two WTA singles titles and more than $5 million on tour. “Everyone wants to come to Charleston, even though it’s so far into the year. Normally at this time of the year, I’m not even playing.”

The other semifinal will pit Chang, who is from Los Angeles, against the bespectacled Brancaccio, who is 24 and ranked No. 211. Brancaccio took out Romero Gormaz by 6-0, 7-6.

Saturday’s doubles final will pit Kayla Cross and Liv Hovde against Brancaccio and Romero Gormaz.

Cross and Hovde rallied for an 0-6,7-6, 10-6 win over Jaimee Flourlis and Dalayna Hewitt. Brancaccio and Romero Gormaz won by 7-6, 6-3 over Australian pair Kayla McPhee and Astra Sharma.