RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — LSU women’s tennis player Megan Falcon, along with partner Audra Cohen, defeated Mexico’s Erika Clarke and Melissa Torres Sandoval in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in the Doubles Round of 16 at the Pan American games on Friday.
Falcon and Cohen, ranked No. 2 and No. 1 respectively in collegiate tennis this past season, knocked off the Mexican duo in one hour 16 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals.
“It was great for Megan and Audra to win the first round and gain confidence,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “They have never played together before, but they are both capable of playing outstanding tennis. Hopefully they can get on a roll.”
Clarke and Sandoval could not convert many break point opportunities during the match, giving the advantage to Falcon and Cohen. The duo from Mexico converted only two out of five chances in the first set and one out of four opportunities in the second set.
Falcon and Cohen had much better success on the day, converting three out of six break point opportunities in the first set while breaking the Mexicans a perfect two out of two chances in the second set to seal the victory.
The pair will next face the fourth-seeded Canadians Marie-Eve Pelletier and Aleksandra Wozniak who earlier defeated Puerto Rico’s Kristina Brandi and Vilmarie Castellvi 6-4, 6-3.
The match is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. (CT).
Pan American Games
Doubles Round of 16
Megan Falcon/Audra Cohen (USA) def. Erika Clarke/Melissa Torres Sandoval (Mexico), 6-4, 6-4
Doubles Quarterfinals
Megan Falcon/Audra Cohen (USA) vs. Marie-Eve Pelletier/Aleksandra Wozniak (Canada), Saturday 10 a.m. (CT)