Jarmere Jenkins on his way to victory in today’s Toowoomba International round-two action at the Regional Tennis Centre - USQ. Bev Lacey
AMERICAN Jarmere Jenkins moved one step closer to a Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba International final showdown with top seed Luke Saville after cruising through his second-round match today.
Jenkins - the tournament number two seed - defeated Brisbane's Michael Looker 6-1, 6-3 in their Regional Tennis Centre - USQ clash.
Saville earlier advanced to tomorrow's quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over fellow Australian Steven de Waard.
Jenkins is aming for back-to-back Futures Tournament victories after defeating Australia's 2014 US Open Junior Champion Omar Jasika in last Saturday's Cairns International final.
The 23-year-old also defeated Saville to win the Happy Valley title in February this year.
Jenkins and his coach opted for a return to Australia after his Happy Valley success, with pleasing results so far.
The Atlanta-born Florida resident who graduated from the University of Virginia also competed at Alice Springs on his way to Cairns.
"This is my first full year on the pro tour," Jenkins said.
"I came to Australia in February to play for six weeks and I enjoyed it so much I decided to come back.
"I like the courts here (Toowoomba) and we have everything we could ask for.
"I got through after a hard first-round battle in tough conditions yesterday and I just wanted to go out and compete today and not worry about the conditions.
"I'm pretty happy with how I'm playing and I guess Luke and I will be targets here this week.
"Luke is one of the better competitors going around and he is someone I have a lot of respect for."
While Saville and Jenkins progressed smoothly the news wasn't so good for several other seeded players.
Australia's Chris O'Connell upset Japanese fourth seed Takuto Niki 6-2, 6-3.
Victorian Greg Jones also elimated his seeded Japanese opponet Yuuya Kibi (6) 6-0, 6-4.
In the Tilly's Crawler Parts women's draw, number two see Katy Dunne from Great Britain advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Australian Priscilla Hon.
Defending champion Isabella Holland took another stride towards possible back-to-back titles with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. elimination of Japanese top seed Rika Fujiwara.
* THE tournament moves to the quarter-final stage tomorrow for both the men's and women's draws with the semi-finals decided tomorrow.
Saturday's women's final starts at 11am with the men's decider to follow straight after.
Grandstand bookings for the finals can be made at the tennis centre office.
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