American Qualifier Marand Stuns Craybas at Fresh Start Women’s Open

By  McCarton Ackerman (February 14, 2013) RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., – The third edition of the Fresh Start Women’s Open at the Morgan Run Club continued on Thursday with all second round singles and quarterfinal doubles matches being played. American qualifier Sanaz Marand pulled off a shock win against former top 40 player and US Olympian Jill Craybas, the No. 4 seed in the event, while reigning NCAA champion and No. 2 seed Nicole Gibbs also moved into the quarterfinals. In one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, Marand prevailed in a two-hour match against Craybas 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. The win marked only the second time that Marand has also advanced to the quarterfinals of a challenger event in her career. In 2012, she jumped nearly 550 spots in the rankings and is currently at a career high of No. 501. “It’s definitely my biggest win ever,” said Marand. “I’ve been trying to stay positive and go for my shots during this tournament in the same way that I do in training.” The former UNC standout has won five USTA Pro Circuit doubles titles throughout her career, including three in 2012, but said a rigorous off-season training regimen has made her primed for a breakthrough in singles. “I did a lot of strength training and off-court fitness in all those key areas you need for the sport,” she said. “You don’t really see the progress from that until a couple of months later and especially in a match like today that was over two hours, so it’s nice to see the hard work paying off.” In the upset of the day, Tara Moore of Great Britain shocked No. 1 seed Irena Pavlovic of France 6-2, 6-4. The world No. 246 has already won two $10,000 futures events so far this year on the ITF Tour. In other second round matches, Gibbs survived a tricky encounter against qualifier Mayo Hibi of Japan and prevailed 6-3, 6-4. No. 6 seed Madison Brengle of the US also eased through with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Alize Lim of France, while former world No. 1 junior and No. 7 seed Irina Khromacheva of Russia recorded the first double bagel of the tournament by blitzing Sachie Ishizu of Japan 6-0, 6-0. The 17-year-old Khromacheva, who has won three Grand Slam junior doubles titles including last year’s French Open, also won the biggest pro title of her career last June at the $25,000 event in Perigueux, France. All quarterfinal singles matches and semifinal doubles matches will take place during Friday’s schedule of play. The feature match of the day will see No. 2 seed Nicole Gibbs take on No. 7 seed Irina Khromacheva of Russia. Fresh Start Women’s Open A USTA Pro Circuit Event Thursday, February 14 Morgan Run Club Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Purse: $25,000 Surface: Hard-Outdoor Thursday, February 14 – RESULTS Main Draw Singles – 2nd Round Tara Moore, Great Britain, def. Irena Pavlovic, France (1), 6-2, 6-4 Nicole Gibbs, United States (2), def. Mayo Hibi, Japan (Q), 6-3, 6-4 Sanaz Marand, United States (Q), def. Jill Craybas, United States (4), 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 Madison Brengle, United States (6) def. Alize Lim, France, 6-4, 6-3 Irina Khromacheva, Russia (7), def. Sachie Ishizu, Japan, 6-0, 6-0 Elitsa Kostova, Bulgaria, def. Christina Makarova, United States (WC), 6-4, 7-5 Katerina Vankova, Czech Republic (Q), def. Jennifer Elie, United States, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Tetyana Arefyeva, Ukraine (Q), def. Katerina Kramperova, Czech Republic (Q), 6-3, 6-2 Main Draw Doubles – Quarterfinals Tara Moore and Melanie South, Great Britain, def. Jill Craybas, United States, and Ana Vrljic, Croatia (1), 6-1, 6-1 Miki Miyamura, Japan, and Yi-Fan Xu, China (2), def. Louisa Chirico and Elizabeth Lumpkin, United States (WC), 6-3, 7-5 Anamika Bhargava and McCall Harkins, United States, def. Jennifer Elie, United States, and Sally Peers, Australia (3), 6-1, 3-6, 10-7 Asia Muhammed and Allie Will, United States, def. Madison Brengle, United States, and Elitsa Kostova, Bulgaria, 6-2, 6-0 Friday’s February 15 – SCHEDULE Court 1 – starting at 10:00 a.m. Tara Moore vs. Madison Brengle, followed by Irina Khromacheva vs. Nicole Gibbs, followed by Anamika Bhargava/Macall Harkins vs. Miki Miyamura/Yi-Fan Xu Court 3 – starting at 10:00 a.m. Sanaz Marand vs. Elitsa Kostova, followed by Katerina Vankova vs. Tetyana Arefyeva, followed by Tara Moore/Melanie South vs. Asia Muhammed/Allie Will