CAYCE, S.C. — Professional women’s tennis is in Lexington County, S.C., this week as the Lexington County Pro Classic, a W50 stop on the international women’s tour, plays out through Sunday, Oct. 11.
The hard-court tournament carries $40,000 in prize money and is being played at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center on Fort Congaree Trail. Qualifying began Monday, Oct. 5, and the 32-player singles main draw started Tuesday, Oct. 6, alongside a 16-team doubles draw.
It is one of only two women’s events on the U.S. pro circuit this week. The top seed is veteran American Madison Brengle, who won a W50 event in Berkeley, California, and reached the final of a W100 in Templeton the week before. Her first-round opponent is qualifier McKenna Schaefbauer, who played college tennis at South Carolina and Illinois.
Several college players with Carolinas ties earned their way into the main draw through qualifying, including a junior from NC State, a freshman from North Carolina and a South Carolina sophomore, who came back from a set down to win her final qualifying match. A current South Carolina senior was among the wild-card entries, along with a recent U.S. Open girls semifinalist.
Matches run daily through the weekend finals.
