Former champ, Oprandi, advances at Rock Hill Rocks Open tennis tourney

Swiss tennis pro Romina Oprandi, a baseline player, used a slice backhand and a soft drop shot to defeat hard-hitting Sofya Zhuk of Russia 7-5, 6-4 in Round One of the main draw of the seventh annual Rock Hill Rocks Open.

Oprandi, ranked 119 in women's singles, is the top seed in this year's tournament. She won the event in 2011, and she is the only singles champion who has returned to compete again in Rock Hill. Play continues at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Rock Hill Tennis Center; follow the tournament through the official web site.

The Rock Hill Rocks Open, presented by Wells Fargo Advisors, features women tennis players from around the world competing for prize money and ranking points. Some competitors are ranked within the top 150 players in the world. Singles and doubles matches are held during daylight hours on the tennis center’s 11 hard, outdoor courts. All matches are open to the public to watch for free.

The USTA (United States Tennis Association) Pro Circuit is the pathway to major WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tournaments and the U.S. Open. There are 40 women’s circuit events in the U.S. in 2015, with prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Former champ, Oprandi, advances at Rock Hill Rocks Open tennis tourney."