Ann Li, Zamarripa twins  sweep Pro Circuit titles in Texas

Ann Li's rise continues in the 2020 restart. After reaching Round 3 in her US Open main draw debut, she's now won the biggest title of her career, at the USTA Pro Circuit and ITF World Tennis Tour W80 event in Tyler, Texas.

With the title, sealed with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 final victory over Marta Kostyuk, Li (pictured above, right) also enters the WTA's Top 100 for the first time in her career, right at the No. 100 spot.

The No. 7 seed did not drop a set in four matches on her way to the final, including a pair of Friday victories, after heavy rains delayed the start of the main draw on the outdoor hard courts. The trophy is Li's third at the ITF level, all coming in singles, but her first above the W25 level.

A rising star at 20 years old, Li knocked out compatriot and No. 13 seed Alison Riske in Round 2 of the US Open, and previously reached the second round at the 2020 Australian Open, where came through qualifying to make her Grand Slam main-draw debut.

"It was great to have some fans come out to support," she said of the limited spectator attendance, "so it feels really good to get the win today.”

Next up for Li is another USTA Pro Circuit tournament this week, a $100,000 event in Charleston, South Carolina.

American CiCi Bellis, who marked the return of the Pro Circuit with a trophy in Macon, Georgia, last week, backed up that performance with another deep run in Tyler. The 21-year-old reached the semifinals, then pulled out of the tournament before her matchup with Kostyuk, whom she defeated in the Macon final.

Allura and Maribella Zamarripa win doubles crown

The 18-year-old Zamarripa twins also had a breakthrough in Tyler, winning the biggest of their now four ITF doubles titles as a team; each of their previous three came at the W15 level. 

The University of Texas commits won a pair of match tiebreaks to earn the title, defeating No. 1 seeds and fellow Americans Caty McNally and Caroline Dolehide, 6-4, 4-6, [10-4], in the quarters and then downing the No. 4 seeded Polish duo of Katarzyna Piter and Paula Kania-Chodun, 6-3, 5-7, [11-9], in the championship match.

“I think we fought hard and kept our energy up,” said Maribella, quoted in the Tyler Morning Telegraph. “Ultimately, that’s what pushed us through the finish line.”

Allura agreed, adding, “I think we did a good job maintaining a high first serve percentage and making sure to close, especially in the beginning of the first set."

Other notable American results on the ITF Circuit include:

Women:

• Isabelle Kouzmanov was a doubles finalist at the W15 event in (Pazardzhik, Bulgaria)

Men:

• Alex Laswon was a doubles finalist at the ATP Challenger 80 event in Hamburg, Germany.
• Felix Corwin won the singles title at the M15 event in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
• Toby Kodat and Vasil Kirkov both reached the singles quarterfinals at the M15 event in Heraklion, Greece.

The USTA Pro Circuit continues this week with women's action in Charleston and men's action in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Live streaming for the Charleston event will be available from Tuesday. Visit our USTA Pro Circuit homepage for more information.