US Open Wildcard playoff: Aiava, Cabrera advance

Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Olympic Blvd, Melbourne VIC • 3001, Australia, 19 August 2017 | Tennis Australian

The semifinals are set for Day 2 of the US Open wildcard playoff.

Due to intermittent rain forecasted for much of the day, a decision was made to move the matches indoors. Fortunately, the Yale Tennis Facility has eight prestige indoor courts and a 30-person viewing area (which was full to capacity).

In the day’s first match, Destanee Aiava was too strong for Kimberly Birrell during her 6-1 6-1 win. Aiava served accurately and effectively, refusing to allow Birrell the time to dial in her normally aggressive returns. Aiava, the No.3 seed. will now play Arina Rodionova in tomorrow’s the semifinals. Arina advanced through to the next round after Priscillla Hon was forced to withdraw from the event because of her impressive run at the $100k ITF in Vancouver.

In the day’s other match, Olivia Rogowska scored a win over Jaimee Fourlis, who had won the last two wildcard playoff events (Australian and French Open). Rogowska was extremely solid off the baseline and dictated many of the exchanges from there. Fourlis, who has not played since the French Open, was lacking match practice coming into the event, but competed hard for every point.

The third and final match of the day was between No.2 seed Lizette Cabrera and Ellen Perez, who won the US Open wildcard playoff last year. Perez jumped out to an early break, but Cabrera was able to break back at 3-4 then went on to win the first set 6-4. In the second both players dropped serve early, but it was Cabrera who was able to consolidate the lead and win 6-4 6-4. Cabrera will now play Rogowska in tomorrow’s semifinal.