Olivia Blatchford became the second US junior in a week to win a WISPA World Tour title when the 17-year-old from New York upset second seed Miranda Ranieri in the final of the $4,000 Women’s American Express FASSP SRC Open at Southport Racquet Club in Southport, USA.
The third seed made her breakthrough in the semi-finals where she overcame a two-game deficit to trounce top-seeded English opponent Suzie Pierrepont 12-14, 3-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-3.
Blatchford was celebrating her third WISPA final appearance this year – while Ranieri, the world No48 from Canada, was marking the fifth final of her career.
The new Canadian national champion took the opening game, but Blatchford battled back to win 10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 7-11, 14-12 to clinch her maiden Tour title.
Final:
[3] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [2] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) 10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 7-11, 14-12
Semi-finals:
[3] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [1] Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 12-14, 3-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-3
[2] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt [4] Stephanie Edmison (CAN) 11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8
Quarter-finals:
[1] Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) bt [Q] Larissa Stephenson (NZL) 11-3, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6
[3] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [5] Samantha Cornett (CAN) 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 16-14
[4] Stephanie Edmison (CAN) bt Nayelly Hernandez (MEX) 11-5, 11-2, 11-2
[2] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt [7] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
1st round:
[1] Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) bt [Q] Karen Kronemeyer (NED) 11-7, 11-7, 11-6
[Q] Larissa Stephenson (NZL) bt [6] Imelda Salazar Martinez (MEX) 11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7
[3] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt Belkys Magaly Velez (ECU) 11-1, 11-3, 11-2
[5] Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt Graciela Lopez Perez (MEX) 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 10-12, 11-7
Nayelly Hernandez (MEX) bt [8] Karina Heredia Gonzalez (MEX) 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6
[4] Stephanie Edmison (CAN) bt Nour Bahgat (EGY) 11-13, 11-13, 13-11, 11-7, 11-8
[7] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) bt [Q] Maria Elena Ubina (USA) 12-10, 12-10, 11-6
[2] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt [Q] Elpiniki Clement (USA) 11-4, 11-2, 11-6