Women’s Kinetic Challenger QF: Two Of Top Three Seeds Taken Down

It was another day of surprises at the Women’s Kinetic 3k Challenger in Boynton Beach, Florida, with two of the top three seeds being knocked out at the quarter final stage of the tournament.

Unseeded Caroline Fouts caused a second upset in as many days, as she followed on from her win over No.8 seed Vanessa Raj, to defeat another Malaysian, this time the competition’s No.3 seed, Wen Li Lai.

The American lost the first game of her last eight contest with the World No.100, but fought back to win the next three games, winning out 3-1 in the longest of the four quarter finals at the Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club. She will now face compatriot and top seed Marina Stefanoni in the semis.

The other upset on quarter finals day came at the hands of No.6 seed Akanksha Salunkhe, with the Indian getting the better of the competition’s No.2 seed, Mexico’s Diana Garcia. Salunkhe came into this event off the back of her maiden Tour win in Guatemala, and that good form has continued, as she beat the Mexican in a four-game contest that lasted 37 minutes.

Salunkhe will now face Colombian No.1 Laura Tovar, the tournament’s No.5 seed, in the sei-finals of the Challenger 3 level competition. The semis will take place on Friday, March 11 at the Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club in Boynton Beach, Florida.

Quarter Final Results: Women’s Kinetic 3k Challenger
[1] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [7] Hannah Blatt (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 (20m)
Caroline Fouts (USA) bt [3] Wen Li Lai (MAS) 3-1: 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (49m)
[5] Laura Tovar (COL) bt Maria Moya (ECU) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (28m)
[6] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt [2] Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-1: 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5 (37m)

Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, March 11
[1] Marina Stefanoni (USA) v Caroline Fouts (USA)
[5] Laura Tovar (COL) v [6] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND)