Teen Caty McNally tops Christina McHale to reach D.C. quarterfinals

In a tournament where the spotlight has been cast on teenage talent, Caty McNally has quietly, but confidently, stepped up to the plate in Washington D.C. The 17-year-old wild card battled past countrywoman Christina McHale, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, on Thursday to book her place in the Citi Open quarterfinals, adding to her current semifinal showing in doubles with 15-year-old Cori “CoCo” Gauff.

McNally began the 2019 season ranked No. 411 and has since cracked the Top 150. The 2018 Roland Garros girls’ finalist won the ITF W100 event in Midland, MI and later transitioned her success to grass, advancing to the semifinals of the ITF W100 tournament in Surbiton, Great Britain, before qualifying into her first main draw at Wimbledon.

The Cincinnati, OH native was also awarded a main draw wild card into her hometown tournament Thursday, but for now, will focus on continuing her best WTA run when she faces fourth seed Hsieh Su-wei or qualifier Varvara Gracheva for a spot in the D.C. semifinals. McNally and Gauff will aim to reach the doubles final against third-seeded Anna Kalinskaya and Miyu Kato.