SAN JOSÉ, CA (August 01, 2019) -- Amanda Anisimova, the 17-year-old surprise semifinalist at the French Open earlier this year, breezed into the quarterfinals of the 2019 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic on Thursday. With a 6-2, 6-2, win over fellow American Madison Brengle in just 54 minutes, the No. 4 seed tallied her best result on a hardcourt on her home soil.
"I'm really happy to be transitioning back to hardcourts because it's one of my favorite surfaces," Anisimova said after the match. "I'm just going to enjoy this week. It was a little bit windy, but I got used to it, and I was just trying to find my game throughout the match."
In the quarters, the young American sensation -- currently ranked No. 23 in the world -- will face Zheng Saisai of China. Zheng rolled past No. 8 seed and semifinalist in San José last year Danielle Collins, 6-2, 6-0, to book her place in the last eight.
Qualifier Kristie Ahn continued her miracle run, upending No. 3 seed Elise Mertens in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Ahn, an NCAA champion as a member of the Stanford women's tennis team, scored her first Top 20 win with her victory over the 20th-ranked Mertens.
Ahn, who becomes the first qualifier to reach the quarters since Sachia Vickery in 2014, will go up against No. 5 seed Donna Vekic. The 23-year-old Vekic made her way past two-time Australian Open champ Victoria Azarenka by a score of 6-4, 6-3, to seal the last spot in the quarterfinals.
"She started playing unbelievable," Vekic said on-court of her former World No. 1 opponent, "and I was a little bit slow and behind on almost every ball. I managed to get into the match, thank God, just in time, and I'm happy with how I played today."
No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka and No. 6 seed Carla Suarez Navarro kick off Friday's packed quarterfinal slate at noon, with the clash between top seed Elina Svitolina and 2018 finalist Maria Sakkari to follow. Vekic and Ahn will play in the last match of the afternoon, while Anisimova and Zheng will battle under the lights Friday night.
Now entering its 49th year, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is a weeklong WTA Premier event bringing the worlds of tennis and technology together in a festival of sports and entertainment. Highlighting the best the region has to offer, the tournament showcases locally sourced cuisine, fine wine and cheese selections, interactive fan exhibitions, premier hospitality options, and of course, incredible tennis action.
Featuring a 28-player singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw the tournament boasts $876,183 in prize money and serves as the opening women's event of the US Open Series.
With several different ticket options available, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic has something for everyone. To purchase tickets go to www.MubadalaSVC.com or call 1-866-982-8497.
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ABOUT THE MUBADALA SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC: The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is the longest-running women-only professional tennis tournament in the world and is the first women's stop of the US Open Series. Owned and operated by IMG, the WTA Premier event features a 28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw with total prize money of $876,183.
ABOUT MUBADALA: Mubadala Investment Company actively manages a worldwide portfolio supporting the vision of a globally integrated and diversified economy, through sustainable returns to its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi. In March 2018, Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) joined the Group. Mubadala's US $225 billion portfolio spans five continents with interests in aerospace, ICT, semiconductors, metals and mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, utilities, healthcare, real estate, defense services, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, agribusiness and a global portfolio of financial holdings. Mubadala is a trusted partner, an engaged shareholder and a responsible global company that is committed to ethics and world-class standards. For more information about Mubadala, please visit: www.mubadala.com.
ABOUT THE US OPEN SERIES: Now in its 16th season, the world's best players on the WTA and ATP Tour are coming together for the US Open Series. Linking seven summer WTA and ATP Tour tournaments to the US Open, the US Open Series serves as a true "regular season" of hard court tennis. Featuring a cohesive schedule, the Series centralizes the way tennis is viewed in North America, across multiple television and digital platforms. Fans will see today's top champions go head-to-head with tomorrow's emerging stars, as storylines develop throughout the summer season. Each tournament also engages its local community with a variety of outreach initiatives, including grass-roots youth tennis clinics and activities.
ABOUT IMG: IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media, operating in more than 30 countries. The company manages some of the world's greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in sports training and league development, as well as marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. IMG is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network.
ABOUT SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY: The founding campus of the 23-campus California State University system, San José State provides a comprehensive university education, granting bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in 250 areas of study -- offered through its eight colleges. With more than 33,000 students and nearly 4,370 employees, San José State University continues to be an essential partner in the economic, cultural and social development of Silicon Valley and the state, annually contributing 10,000 graduates to the workforce. The university is immensely proud of the accomplishments of its more than 260,000 alumni, 60 percent of whom live and work in the Bay Area.