Pro Circuit Round-up: Thomas reaches first singles final

Eighteen-year-old Danny Thomas of Pickerington, Ohio, reached his first pro singles final last week at the Oracle Waco Futures in Waco, Texas.

Thomas, who qualified into the $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit tournament, upset two seeded players en route to the final, defeating No. 8 Julian Lenz, 7-6 (7), 1-6, 6-4, in the quarterfinals and No. 7 Ryan Shane, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the semifinals. He fell to No. 5 Alexander Ward, 6-1, 6-1, in the final.

The left-handed Thomas, who has been among the top junior players in the world this year, has shown great promise while competing at the pro level in recent weeks. He picked up his second USTA Pro Circuit doubles title, and first at the Challenger level, the week of Oct. 30, teaming with Denis Kudla to win the championship in Charlottesville, Va.

Thomas also made his Grand Slam debut in doubles at the US Open in September after earning a wild card to compete in the tournament by winning the Boys' 18s doubles title, with Vasil Kirkov, at the USTA National Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich. He played mixed doubles with seven-time Grand Slam champion Liezel Huber at this year's Open as well.

In junior play in 2017, Thomas reached the singles quarterfinals at the US Open, finished runner-up in doubles (with Kirkov) at the French Open, won the doubles titles at the Coffee Bowl and Banana Bowl and reached the doubles final at the 58th Trofeo Bonfiglio - Campionati Internazionali d'Italia Juniores. He is currently No. 21 in the ITF World Junior Rankings.

Other results from Americans competing on the USTA Pro Circuit and ITF Circuit the week of Nov. 27 include:

Men:

• In addition to Thomas and Shane, Trevor Allen Johnson also reached the singles semifinals in Waco, and Austin Krajicek advanced to the singles quarterinals. Nathaniel Lammons and Alex Lawson finished runner-up in the doubles draw.
• Thai-Son Kwiatkowski reached the singles semifinals and the doubles final at the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit event in Metepec, Mexico. Adam El Mihdawy and Ronnie Schneider also reached the singles quarterfinals at the event.
• Kirkov and Collins Johns were singles quarterfinalists and John Lamble and John Paul Fruttero were doubles finalists at the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit event in Santo Domingo, D.R.
• Robert Galloway won the doubles title at the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit event in Stellenbosch, South Africa

Women:

• Salma Ewing won the singles title and Monica Robinson reached the singles quarterfinals at the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit event in Stellenbosch, South Afirca. Madeleine Kobelt finished runner-up in doubles.
• Madison Bourguignon reached the singles semifinals at the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit event in Cantanduva, Brazil.
• Chiara Scholl won the doubles title and reached the singles semifinals at the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit event in Santiago, Chile.
• Anastasia Nefedova advanced to the singles quarterfinals at the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit event in Hammamet, Tunisia.
• Sofia Sewing won the doubles title and reached the singles quarterfinals at the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit event in Manta, Ecuador. Akilah James and Stephanie Nemtsova also advanced to the singles quarterfinals.