Women's Tennis
    USC's Maria Sanchez Wins ITF Challenger Singles Crown
    Trojan grad powers to a big championship title in her second year as a pro.
    Maria Sanchez is making a name for herself on the pro circuit.
    Maria Sanchez is making a name for herself on the pro circuit.

    Sept. 23, 2012

    USC grad Maria Sanchez fully dominated today's singles title match at the ColemanVision Tennis Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. to take the crown in the $75,000 ITF Women's Circuit event.

    In her second year on the pro circuit, Sanchez has been strong. Her run to today's championship in New Mexico was capped by a 6-1, 6-1 upset of the No. 3 seed Lauren Davis in the singles draw. She made a statement in the semifinals in taking down the No. 2 seed, Portugal's Larcher de Brito with a gutsy 6-4, 7-6 (5) win yesterday. Her only three-setter in the tourney was a wild 5-7, 6-0, 7-6 (4) comeback in the second round against Sachia Vickery. Other than that, Sanchez cruised through with a 6-4, 6-2 opener and a 6-4, 6-0 win in the quarterfinals.

    Earlier this year, Sanchez won a $50,000 event in Sacramento, and reached the singles final in a similar event in Florida. Sanchez now holds a career-best 177 WTA ranking and is 509 in the ITF.