Last round of qualifiers was picture perfect at the ConnecticutOpen

The last round of qualifying matches was picture perfect today at the Connecticut Open. Warm weather blanketed the courts as spectators enjoyed watching some exciting tennis matches. American Christina McHale advanced to the main round as she defeated Japan's Misaki Doi 6-4, 7-6(2).

“It’s the last American in qualifying but I’m just really happy with how I competed today and how I fought,” McHale said. “It was a really up and down match. At times Misaki was really playing well and I kind of just had to weather the storm and try and use my serve to mix it up and get myself back into the games."

“Even when I was down 3-0, I knew that just like she had done in the first set, I could do the same. The games were still really close. Sometimes there were just times Misaki was coming up with shots that were really good.”

Earlier in the day, former World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva won a match against Anastasia Rodionova in her first return to WTA Tour play since 2015. Saturday afternoon, attendees also watched a second match where Zvonareva played this year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova. Rybarikova led the match 7-5 before Zvonareva retired with a left achilles injury.

During her time away from tennis (2015-2017), Zvonareva got married, earned a masters in Global Studies and Political Science from a joint program between Northeastern University and the Women's Tennis Benefits Association and became a mother in 2016.

The matches took place in the Sportsmaster Grandstand court as well as Courts 1, 2 and 3. The nice thing about the smaller courts is that you're up close to the action within 20 feet of the court. The bleacher seats are three rows high and provide a closer location to the court than ever before.

Tickets are still available for the first day of the main round. The best option for families is the Family Four-Pack of tickets which also gets you a $20 food voucher and a tournament poster.

Here are the rest of my photos from Day #2: