Brooke Buckner and Kate Fahey secured their spots in the women’s singles final late Thursday evening at the Darling Tennis Center with hard-fought victories.
Buckner faced off against No. 2 seed Catherine Parenteau, triumphing with scores of 11-4, 10-12, and 11-6. The No. 4 seed started strong, dominating Game 1 with precise drives that allowed her to advance to the kitchen line and finish points effectively.
In response, Parenteau altered her strategy for Game 2, utilizing shorter, angled shots to keep Buckner on the move. This adjustment let her capitalize on Buckner’s speed, allowing her to change the ball’s direction frequently, much like Anna Leigh Waters did against Buckner in the previous week’s final in Virginia Beach. Parenteau’s new tactics paid off, and she narrowly won Game 2.
However, Buckner quickly regained control in the decisive game, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. She maintained her momentum to close out the match, benefiting from several missed returns by Parenteau.
“Catherine has every shot in the book, and she’s used that same strategy on me before,” the former University of Michigan tennis star explained. “I was expecting it a little bit, but that doesn’t mean I handled it particularly well. I knew it was gonna be a battle, and thankfully I was able to pull it out.”
Buckner will have the opportunity to secure her third medal of the year on Sunday, facing off against the winner of the second semifinal, Kate Fahey.
Fahey advanced by defeating No. 16 seed Genie Bouchard, who had an impressive run in Las Vegas, with scores of 11-2, 14-16, and 11-0. The No. 9 seed appeared set for an easy victory after dominating the first game. However, Bouchard fought back fiercely, showcasing exceptional defense and precise volleys to save six match points in a thrilling Game 2, which she ultimately won on her fifth attempt.
Undeterred by the need to play a third game, Fahey stepped up her game, finishing decisively with an 11-0 shutout in just eleven minutes.
“I think I kind of stopped hitting the ball a little bit in the second game, and [Genie] was able to take some short balls and come in off of that, so I just wanted to let it rip in the third game,” Fahey said of her mentality going into Game 3.
That victory propelled Fahey into her fourth singles final of the year.
On Sunday, Buckner and Fahey—both former tennis stars at the University of Michigan—will meet in a final for the second time this year. Buckner emerged victorious when they last faced off in Kansas City in August, winning that match in three games.
Fans are hoping for another tightly contested showdown in Sin City!
