Defending state singles champion Grace Jennings of Christian Academy cruised to a pair of victories Thursday in the opening rounds of the Republic Bank/KHSAA State Singles and Doubles Championships in Lexington, Ky.
Jennings, a senior who is the No. 2 seed, defeated Grayson County’s Grace Gorby 6-3, 6-0 in the first round and Ryle’s Elizabeth Hamilton 6-0, 6-0 in the second round. She will face Dixie Heights’ Brooke Warden at 8 a.m. Friday in a third-round match.
The top four seeds all won their first- and second-round matches Thursday to advance to the third round. Top-seeded Michelle McKamey of McCracken County, No. 3 Caroline Cox of Collegiate and No. 4 Eva Borders of St. Francis all won both of their matches in straight sets.
The top three seeds in the boys singles tournament all won their first two matches – St. Xavier’s Drew Singerman (No. 1) and Alex Wesbrooks (No. 2) and Oneida Baptist’s Choopat Suvimolstean (No. 3). Fourth-seeded Dino Selimovic of Ballard was upset by Ashland Blazer’s Robby Krick 6-4, 6-1 in the first round.
The top four seeds in the boys and girls doubles tournaments all won their first- and second-round matches. Russell’s Maci Ferguson and Kierstin Hensley are the No. 1 seeds on the girls side, while defending champions Tommy Hagan and Logan McKinney of McCracken County leads the boys event.