FD’s Flores reaches Top-50 of junior world rankings
OFFENBACH, Germany — It was a breakthrough weekend for Vicky Flores at the 25th annual International Tennis Foundation Junior Tournament of Offenbach.
Flores, from Fort Dodge, captured both the singles and doubles championships at the Grade-A event — a stellar performance that catapulted the 18-year-old into the Top-50 of the junior world rankings.
Flores, who held the No. 92 position before the ITF tourney, moved into the No. 48 slot with her efforts. She also cracked the Top-1000 in the world’s overall women’s rankings at No. 904.
Flores defeated Xin Yu Wang of China in the semifinals, 6-0, 1-6 and 6-3, then rallied to top Qinwen Zheng, also of China, in the championship round, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. She went a perfect 6-0 in the bracket to claim gold.
In doubles competition, Flores and Thaisa Grana Pedretti of Brazil swept through Tyra Black and Viktoriya Petrenko in the finals, 6-2 and 6-4.
Flores, who will attend Georgia Tech University in the fall, will qualify for the main draw in the junior division at Wimbledon in July if she reaches the Top-45 of the rankings between now and June 30.