Trophée Clarins: McNally beats compatriot Volynets to reach final

No. 6 seed Caty McNally advanced to the final of the Trophée Clarins by beating fellow American Katie Volynets 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 at the Lagardère Paris Racing.

McNally, ranked No. 62 in the WTA rankings, will face Frenchwoman Diane Parry in the final, as she attempts to win just her second ever WTA 125-level event.

En route to the final, McNally beat Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic (6-4, 6-4), Slovenian Tamara Zidansek (7-6 (3), 7-6 (1)) and Japanese Nao Hibino (6-2, 5-3 ret.) before overcoming Volynets in the semi-finals.

In the previous rounds, Volynets, ranked No 102, won against Canadian qualifier Carol Zhao (6-0, 7-6 (9)), Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, the top seed (6-3, 6-3) and Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, the No 7 seed (7-5, 2-6, 6-2).

But it was a step too far for the talented young American to reach the final in the Paris WTA Challenger event, as she was outplayed by her compatriot in the first and third sets.

McNally, however, will now face a home favourite in Diane Parry, who will provide a tough examination of the American’s title credentials in front of what is sure to be a vocal Parisian crowd.

Paris WTA 125K Series, other semi-final result (Lagardère Paris Racing, clay, USD 115.000):

• Diane Parry beat Varvara Gracheva (2): 6-0, 6-2