Kiwis Gain Places In International Events Through Qaulifying

Singles qualifying play has been completed for the US$25,000 Configure Express Pro Challenger and US$15,000 men’s Futures at the Renouf Tennis Centre in Wellington with local player Warwick Foy and Aucklander Stefan Williams wining through to the main draw in the men’s competition.

Already through to the main women’s draw as a result of rankings or wildcards are Sacha Jones, the Kiwi No1 who is ranked at 268 in the world and currently in the semifinals of a US$25,000 tournament in Western Australia.

Jones is joined by wildcards talented Kiwis teens, Katherine Westbury, aged 17 who has a WTA ranking of 771, Emily Fanning(Canterbury), who is just 15, Chelsea Te Tai, 18 and another Cantab, Leela Beattie, 16.

The top seed for the women’s event is world No42 Jarmila Groth, who has her husband Sam Groth in the men’s main draw.

Kiwis in the men’s main singles draw are Michael Venus at 304 in the world along with fellow Davis Cup player Rubin Statham, Marcus Daniell and wildcards Marvin Barker, Sebatian Lavie, Anton Bettink and Auckland’s Adam Staub. Also making the main draw are Adam Thompson, a former Davis Cup player and Martin Colenbrander from Auckland.

The players have two days preparation before the main draw starts for both tournaments on Tuesday running through until the finals on Sunday 21 November. There is no further qualifying matches.

Also

Configure Express Pro Challenger Women’s singles qualifying round:
Results:
Julia Moriarty(Ireland) bt Brittany Teei(New Zealand) 6-1 6-1, Isabella Holland(Australia) bt Erin Clark(USA) 6-1 6-1, Anja Zaja (Germany) bt Michika Ozeki(Japan) 6-1 6-1

Men’s Futures singles qualifying round:
Warwick Foy(New Zealand) bt Elliot Keyser(Australia) 6-3 6-3, Stefan Williams(New Zealand) bt Jordan Todd(New Zealand) 6-1 6-0, Gilles De Gouy(France) bt Matthew Grant(New Zealand) 6-4 7-6(5), Joey Swaysland(Australia) bt Suwat Chatkaewboriboon(Thailand) 6-0 6-2.