CHARLESTON, USA
Storm Sanders and Ellen Perez have continued their impressive form to advance to the doubles semifinals at a WTA 250 tournament in Charleston this week.
The top-seeded duo have lost only five games across two matches, including four in today's 6-1 6-3 victory against Poland's Katarzyna Piter and China's Wang Yafan in the quarterfinals.
In singles action, Astra Sharma won a hard-fought second-round clash against eighth-seeded American Madison Brengle.
Sharma led 6-4 4-1, but then lost nine of the next 10 games. The 25-year-old managed to regain control late in the match with some aggressive play, recovering from a 1-4 deficit in the deciding set to record a 6-4 4-6 7-5 victory after two hours and 27 minutes on court.
"I'm so happy," Sharma said. "I had to overcome a lot mentally. I'm glad I changed my tactics in that third set."
It propels Sharma into her second tour-level quarterfinal of the season, where the world No.165 will play 15-year-old Czech wildcard Linda Fruhvirtova.
AUSSIES IN ACTION - Charleston
TODAY'S RESULTS
Women's singles, second round
Astra Sharma (AUS) d [8] Madison Brengle (USA) 6-4 4-6 7-5
Women's doubles, quarterfinals
[1] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Storm Sanders (AUS) d Katarzyna Piter (POL)/Wang Yafan (CHN) 6-1 6-3
Elixane Lechemia (FRA)/Ingrid Neel (USA) d Astra Sharma (AUS)/Naomi Broady (GBR) 6-3 5-7 [10-6]
COMING UP
Women's singles, quarterfinals
Astra Sharma (AUS) v [WC] Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE)
Women's doubles, semifinals
[1] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Storm Sanders (AUS) v Julia Wachaczyk (GER)/Renata Zarazua (MEX)