Qualify For the ATX Open… Czech

The two round qualifying tournament to determine competitors for six open positions in the ATX Open singles draw concluded on Sunday.

Amongst the qualifiers, five countries are represented including one American, Sachia Vickery, one Canadian, Rebecca Marino, one Australian, Olivia Gadecki, one Frenchwoman, Jessika Ponchet and two Czechs, Sara Bejlek and Tereza Martincova.

The qualifiers also range in age from 18 (Bejlek) to 33 (Marino).

The left-handed Bejlek advanced without dropping a set, dispatching her opponents 6-3, 6-2, and 6-1, 6-2, spending less than two hours on court combined.

Vickery, a 28-year-old from Miramar, Florida faced more resistance on her way to two three-set victories over Carol Zhao in round one and fellow American, Elvina Kalieva on Sunday.

Marino, a two-time Tennis Canada Female Player of the Year took out the qualifying draw’s youngest competitor Lyla Middleton (14) on Saturday and rebounded from one set down to better Gabriela Lee on Sunday.

Gadecki advanced over American Shelby Rogers on Sunday after Rogers was forced to retire early in the second set due to injury.

Ponchet had the honor of securing the first of six main draw positions, punching her ticket before lunch after besting American Liv Hovde 6-4, 7-6 (4).

And lastly, much like her fellow Czech, Martincova advanced in straight sets over Katarzyna Kawa and Yulia Starodubtseva.

In an interesting draw result, four qualifiers will face one of the tournament’s top five seeds in the opening round while the remaining two – Marino and Vickery – will face off against each other.

In facing No. 1 seed Anhelina Kalinina, Bejlek is looking to win her first career WTA Tour match.

Main draw play begins on Monday.