It鈥檚 only fitting for a Trojan to march right in.
Which is exactly what Jessica Failla did Friday in beating fellow-American Ines Karmen Vias 6-1, 6-2 in the quarter-finals to advance to today鈥檚 semifinals of the $10,000 Encore FX Victoria International women鈥檚 tennis tournament at the Panorama Recreation Centre.
鈥淚 was born on the court,鈥� said the USC Trojans player, who just completed her freshman year in the Pac-12 for the NCAA national top-20 tennis team.
Dad Greg Failla, a former U.S. junior Davis Cup team player, also was a Trojan. He was NCAA top-10 at Long Beach State before transferring to USC and later playing pro tennis. Jessica鈥檚 mom, Katrina, is also a former pro tennis player. Both of Jessica Failla鈥檚 parents are now tennis instructors.
鈥淭hey understand everything about the sport and the process,鈥� said the native of San Diego.
鈥淚鈥檓 blessed because not every player gets to have that sort of background in the family.鈥�
Failla has certainly put it to good use this week.
鈥淏e consistent and aggressive,鈥� she said of her hallmarks.
Top-seed Alexa Graham from Long Island, New York, an 18-year-old who played in the U.S. Open junior girls鈥� tournament last year, defeated Steffi Carruthers of Samoa 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in another quarter-final.
In the other quarter-finals: University of Michigan Wolverines freshman Katharine Fahey from New Jersey defeated Stacey Fung, a University of Washington Huskies freshman from West Vancouver, 6-3, 6-4; and Lorraine Guillermo, three times all-conference in her NCAA career at Pepperdine, beat Nicole Hoynaski of Australia 4-6, 7-2, 6-2.
Today鈥檚 semifinals feature Failla playing Graham and Fahey meeting Guillermo back-to-back beginning at 10:30 a.m. The final is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Seating is court level and admission is free.
The doubles final was held Friday and it was an all-American affair with Guillermo and Kristina Smith beating Fahey and Victoria Flores 5-7, 6-1, 13-11.
cdheensaw@times colonist.com
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
