International stakes rise as weekend finals near

TENNIS: The 2018 Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba International stakes go up a significant notch today as players look to win through to weekend finals’ matches.

The tournament continued on schedule at Toowoomba Regional Tennis Centre — USQ yesterday despite a brief late-morning rain break and threatening skies.

Match officials were optimistic of round-two play being completed to set up today’s quarter-final showdown as the 32-player fields in both the men’s and women’s draw continue to thin ahead of Sunday’s championship deciders.

Tournament director Emma Creighton said the majority of tournament top seeds were

‘‘ AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS ARE ENJOYING A PRETTY GOOD WEEK TO DATE. EMMA CREIGHTON

progressing towards the weekend with Australian players figuring figuring prominently in the early rounds.

“We opened up a couple of extra courts today to help make up a little lost time,” Creighton said yesterday.

“We’re hoping to maintain our schedule, weather permitting, for our quarter finals to go ahead tomorrow.

“We are a round behind in the doubles draw but again we are hopeful of the doubles finals being decided as planned late Friday afternoon.

“The semi-finals are due to begin at 11am Saturday with Sunday’s finals also starting at 11 o’clock.

“The majority of tops seeds are progressing and Australian players are enjoying a pretty good week to date for supporters hoping to see them on court at the weekend.”

Australia’s Astra Sharma continued her push yesterday towards a possible second successive Toowoomba final appearance with the number-six seed seeing off her spirited Chinese opponent Shilin Xu 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Other Australian women to progress included Zoe Hives who ended Naiktha Bains week 7-6, 6-0.

Men’s top seed Maverick

Banes added another tough battle to his gruelling week with a 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 win over fellow Australian Alexander Crnokrak.

Australia’s Luke Saville yesterday became one of the tournament’s major casualties after the tournament number two seed fell to Taipei rival Kuan-Yi Lee 7-6, 6-3, 6-2.

■ PLAY resumes at 10am today.

Spectator entry to the tournament is free.

Photos: Kevin Farmer HARD-FOUGHT WIN: Astra Sharma on her way to victory in round two of the Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba International yesterday. Kuan-Yi Lee in action during his win yesterday over Luke Saville.