Wimbledon: Katie Volynets launches latest qualifying bid, Anisimova to face Baptiste

Nine American women took the first step towards qualifying into the Wimbledon main draw Tuesday.

Among those victorious included top seed Katie Volynets. Ranked a career-high No. 71 this week, the 22-year-old held off Francisca Jorge of Portugal, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Volynets is bidding to qualify into a fourth consecutive major, after earning direct entry at both the 2023 French Open and Wimbledon. She’ll meet Simona Waltert in the second round after the Swiss overcame last year’s girls’ singles champion Clervie Ngounoue, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.

A quarterfinalist two years ago, Amanda Anisimova dismissed Valentini Grammatikopoulou with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. The current world No. 191 next takes on countrywoman Hailey Baptiste. The No. 4 seed defeated Noma Noha Akugue, 7-5, 6-2.

McCartney Kessler impressed in her opener. The 24-year-old edged out Rebecca Marino, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4. Marino arrived having triumphed at the Ilkley Trophy, an ITF 100 event.

Alycia Parks, Robin Montgomery, Kayla Day, Varvara Lepchenko and Sachia Vickery also advanced.

Other notable winners included Olga Danilovic, who ousted Danielle Collins in the second round of Roland Garros. The eighth seed beat Italy’s Lucrezia Stefanini, 6-3, 6-4. Second seed Bai Zhuoxuan and third seed Renata Zarazua joined Danilovic in posting straight-set wins.

Sixth seed Maria Timofeeva was among the competitors eliminated after falling, 6-1, 6-3, to Olivia Gadecki. As a qualifier at the Australian Open, the 20-year-old Russian knocked out Caroline Wozniacki and Beatriz Haddad Maia on her way to the round of 16.