NEWPORT BEACH, CA, USA - Wildcard Danielle Collins was the only American to advance to the quarterfinals on Day 3 of the Oracle Challenger Series WTA 125K event in Newport Beach, as four of her countrywomen crashed out.
In a day dominated by three-setters and epic comebacks, it was Collins who was able to edge past fellow American Jamie Loeb to advance 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.
Read more: Loeb upsets top seed McHale in Newport Beach first round
“Having been granted a wildcard into Indian Wells last year, I know it’s a huge incredible event, one of the biggest of the year,” Collins said afterwards, referring to the prize on offer for the winner of the Oracle Challenger Series: a singles wildcard into the 2018 BNP Paribas Open.
“All of the top players are playing there, and to compete in the same tournament as those players is an incredible experience. Ultimately, I want to get there and be able to compete with those players and beat those players.”
Yesterday, Loeb upset the top seed Christina McHale in a comfortable straight sets, but despite leading by a break in the third set against Collins, she wasn’t able to back up the victory. Collins moves on into the quarterfinals, where she’ll face Jang Su Jeong.
Jang also notched a win over an American today, as she came back from a set down to edge past wildcard Claire Liu, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. Liu led by a break during much of the second set until Jang turned it around, needing a marathon two hours and 30 minutes to complete the comeback.
Joining Collins and Jang in the Newport 125K quarterfinals, qualifiers Sofya Zhuk and Mayo Hibi were both victorious in grueling three-setters, with both matches stretching beyond two and a half hours. Zhuk came back from a set down against Kayla Day, 1-6, 7-6(0), 7-5, while Hibi edged past fellow qualifier Amanda Anisimova, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
