By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          There continues to be some noise made at the Leroy Peddy Tennis Center.

          On Wednesday, it came from former world junior No. 1 Whitney Osuigwe.

          The 16-year-old from Bradenton, Fla. felt at home against Christina McHale, keeping her deep and on defense.

          An unforced error clinched the first set 7-5 for No. 325 Osuigwe, who then needed less than a half hour to close things out 6-0 over No. 154 McHale.

          Hailey Baptiste got the week going by knocking off the top-ranked seed in the qualifying draw to eventually earn a spot in the main draw.

          And she keeps on playing, now thanks to a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Asia Muhammad for her fourth win in four days.

          Kayla Day, the 2016 singles champ winner of the tournament, advanced with a tough two-set win over fourth seed Claire Liu. Allie Kiick knocked out sixth seed Kristie Ahn in three sets.

          Second seed Jessica Pegula and seventh seed Marie Bouzkova are the only two of the eight seeds left in the main draw.

          Three of the four qualifiers remain, Baptiste joined by Louisa Chirico and Giuliana Olmos.

          The second round gets going Thursday.

          Wednesday’s results:

          Kayla Day (USA) def. Claire Liu (USA) [4] 7-6(7) 6-4; Allie Kiick (USA) def. Kristie Ahn (USA) [6] 6-4 4-6 6-0; Marie Bouzkova (CZE) [7] def. Alexa Guarachi (CHI) 7-5 6-2; Varvara Lepchenko (USA) def. Ashley Kratzer (USA) 6-1 6-3; Hailey Baptiste (USA) def. Asia Muhammad (USA) 1-6 6-3 6-1.

          And Whitney Osuigwe (USA) def. Christina McHale (USA) [8] 7-5 6-0; Sophie Chang (USA) def. Kurumi Nara (JPN) 7-5 7-6(4); Jessica Pegula (USA) [2] def. Sanaz Marand (USA) 2-6 6-3 6-1; Ann Li (USA) def. Nicole Gibbs (USA) [5] 2-6 7-5 6-0; Louisa Chirico (USA) def. Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) 7-6(4) 6-4; Giuliana Olmos (MEX) def. Ana Sofia Sanchez (MEX) 6-2 7-5;

          And in doubles: Anna Danilina (KAZ) / Ingrid Neel (USA) def. Madison Brengle (USA) / Ashley Kratzer (USA) w.o.; Sanaz Marand (USA) / Whitney Osuigwe (USA) def. Hailey Baptiste (USA) / Peyton Stearns (USA) 6-1 6-4.