American Jaime Loeb defeated compatriot Samantha Martinelli in

first-round play at the Oracle Challenger Series in New Haven.

By Bob Phillips

NEW HAVEN—The first day of the 2019-2020 Oracle Challenger Series took place under gloomy New Haven skies, as a heavy dose of rainfall shortened the amount of on-court action able to take place at the Yale Tennis Center on Sunday. The weather did not dampen the spirits of the players or fans on hand during Day One of the tournament.

In the day’s first matchup on Court 1, Oracle Challenger Series veteran Jaime Loeb defeated fellow American Samantha Martinelli in a back-and-forth affair. Martinelli, a sophomore on the Yale women’s tennis team, took the opening set 6-2. Loeb, however, regrouped and won the next two matches en route to a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 triumph. Loeb, an Oracle US Tennis Award Recipient, advances to meet No. 6 seed Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Oracle Challenger Series stalwart Nicole Gibbs made a strong first impression to begin her play in the 2019-2020 Series by stopping fellow American Jennifer Elie 6-3, 6-2. It ws another example of the resilience Gibbs has displayed since overcoming a rare form of oral cancer earlier this year. Not only has she returned to form quicker than most thought possible, she recently took a set from 2019 Wimbledon champion Simona Halep during the first round of the U,S. Open. She will next meet No. 14 seed Whitney Osuigwe.

Chicagoan Donald Young advanced on the men's side.

On the men’s side, another American, two-time Oracle Challenger Series semifinalist and 2019 Road to Indian Wells Donald Young reached the French Open finals in doubles play and who received a wild card to the Oracle-New Haven stopped Canadian Filip Peliwo in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. The 30-year-old Young showcased his signature on-court style, saving 12 of 13 break points (92 percent) and served up seven aces. Next up, he meets No. 8 seed Denis Istomin.

American Noah Rubin also advanced by stopping Roberto Quiroz of Ecuador in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-4. Rubin, who has participated in prior Oracle Challenger Series events in Indian Wells, Newport Beach and Chicago, will next meet No. 10 seed Enzo Couacaud.

Later on Court 3, Japan’s Mayo Hibi took down Australia’s Lizette Cabrera in straight sets 6-4, 7-5. Hibi is well-acquainted with the Oracle Challenger Series as a two-time Newport Beach participant and will next meet No. 7 seed Anna Blinkova in the second round of play in New Haven. Also on Day One’s list of winners is American Usue Maitane Arconada who advances to Round Two after stopping Australia’s Naomi Broady 6-3, 6-0. Aronada, and Oracle Challenger Series stalwart, moves on to challenge the tournament’s No. 4 seed, Tatjana Maria.

The bucolic Connecticut Center at Yale is the tournament's site.

Back on the men’s side, American Ryan Shane defeated fellow American Aleks Kovacevic in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Under dark skies and the ever-present threat of rain, Shane needed just 70 minutes to defeat Kovacevic, a New York native who received a wild card. Shane, the 2015 NCAA men’s singles champion at the University of Virginia, advances to take on No. 13 seed Mitchell Krueger in the second round.

While the New Haven faithful may had high hopes for Dylan King, the collegiate standout, a member of the Yale men’s tennis team, was unable to get past Petros Chrysochos of Cyprus who advanced by taking down King in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

Oracle Challenger Series continues on Tuesday at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University. For Tuesday’s order of play, click HERE . For more information on the tournament, click HERE .

—with staff reports