City of Henderson Returns as Presenting Sponsor of USTA Pro Circuit Women’s $60,000 Singles and Doubles Tournament Featuring Up-and-Coming WTA Pro Players With Finals Set For Sunday; Admission Free For All Fans

HENDERSON, Nev. (October 4, 2021) – Seven qualifiers advanced to the main draw of the Henderson Tennis Open with wins on Monday during Day 1 of action at the USTA Pro Circuit Women’s $60,000 event taking place this week at the Whitney Mesa Tennis Complex.

On Tuesday, main-draw singles matches will include: Louisa Chirico of Harrison, N.Y., against fellow American and former University of North Carolina star Jessica Aney and No. 2-seeded Allie Kiick from Florida facing Shatoo Mohmad of the U.S. In another All-American matchup Sophie Chang battles Toni Kinard.

In the final round of qualifying, No. 3-seeded Tricia Mar takes on local Las Vegas junior Jessica Bernales for the final qualifying spot in the main draw. In her first-round qualifying match on Monday, Bernales defeated Madison Rose, 6-0, 6-2.

Seeded No. 6 in qualifying, UNLV player Molly Helgesson, the No. 6 seed from Sweden, advanced to the main draw by way of a walkover against Alexia Rodriguez.

Admission to the tournament is free and all fans are encouraged to wear masks and follow standard health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. All players and staff will be subject to the ITF World Tennis Tour health and safety protocols. The tournament will be streamed live on www.usta.com/procircuit.

Past Las Vegas tournament alums such as American’s Chirico, Kiick, and Alexa Glatch and are all entered in the main draw, which begins on Tuesday, Oct. 5. In addition, former University of Michigan star Emina Bektas is entered in the main draw along with fellow American’s Chang and Dalayna Hewitt.

University of California junior Haley Giavara, currently ranked No. 17 in the national ITA collegiate singles rankings, has received a wild card into the main draw, as has American’s Rasheeda McAdoo, Alexandra Riley and Shatoo Momamad.

The singles draw will consist of 32 players and the doubles draw 16. Both singles and doubles finals are scheduled for Sunday.

Monday qualifying results:

Marcela Zacarias (1), Mexico, def. Maria Kononova (Russia), 6-1, 6-3      

Erica Oosterhout (2), US, def. Elena Ecker, US, 6-0, 6-0

Rhiann Newborn (4), US, def. Kara Leigh Leonard, US, 6-0, 6-0

Holly Verner (5), US, def. Liz Pinson, US, 6-0, 6-1

Molly Helgesson (6), Sweden, def. Alexia Rodriguez, US, walkover

Shir Azran (7), Israel, def. Ella Ecker, US, 6-0, 6-0

Ibuifuro Clement, US, def. Leslie Rose, US, 7-5, 7-6 (2)

Jessica Bernales, US, def. Madison Rose, US, 6-0, 6-2

Sponsors include: City of Henderson, RC Willey Furniture Store, Bosch, Marquis-Aurbach-Coffing law firm, University Medical Center, Renewal by Andersen, Stoddard Creative, Cirque de Soleil, Wilson, Dragnev Holdings, GoGoKarokeLV.com, Dr. Ron Koe of Green Valley Orthopedics, House of Tennis, Hancock Sugai Tennis Academy, Pressed for Juice, Lake Las Vegas, Anime Boba Café, Racket Science and massage therapist Glen Alex. The Official Charity is the Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children’s Foundation.

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