International down to final eight players
TENNIS: Queensland’s Maverick Banes has overcome a bizarre start to his Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba International campaign to claim a berth in today’s semi-finals at Toowoomba Regional Tennis Centre — USQ.
Banes is the tournament men’s top seed but was forced to work his way through the early qualifying rounds for a place in the main draw after missing the entry deadline.
Yesterday, in tough, unseasonal weather conditions, he continued his testing week grind with a 6-4, 6-2 quarter-final victory over number five seed Jacob Grills to clinch a semi-final berth.
He’ll meet Matthew Romios today for a place in tomorrow’s final.
Romios eliminated Frenchman Vicent Stouff 6-4, 6-7, 6-0 to earn his semi spot.
In today’s other semi-final match, fourth seed Hiroyasu Ehara of Japan meets number eight seed Colin Sinclair from Brisbane.
Ehara downed Aussie Calum Puttergill 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in their quarter-final match.
Sinclair ended the run of Taipei’s Kuan-Yi Lee with a 6-1, 6-2 quarters’ victory.
Lee could not repeat his previous day effort when he knocked out Australia’s number two seed Luke Saville.
Victorian Zoe Hives continued her encouraging return from injury to earn a semi-final meeting today with number eight seed YaHsuan Lee from Taipei.
Hives downed fellow Aussie Astra Sharma 6-3, 6-4 while Lee ended the gallant run of Australia’s Abbie Myers 6-2, 6-7, 7-6.
Abigail Tere-Apisha fought back from a set down yesterday to eliminate Aussie Destanee Aiava 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 and clinch a semi spot.
Her opponent will be decided this morning when the unfinished quarter between Ellen Perez and Chihiro Muramatsu resumes at one set all.
Last night’s washed out doubles finals have also been rescheduled to today, weather permitting.