Phebus Loses in Women’s Challenger

Newport Beach’s Keri Phebus was eliminated by third-seeded Emmanuelle Gagliardi, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, in the first round of the U.S. Tennis Assn. Women’s Challenger of Newport Beach on Wednesday at the Newport Beach Marriott.

Gagliardi plays Linka Nemeckova today. Nemeckova defeated Chino’s Brie Rippner, 6-0, 6-3.

Second-seeded Rene Simpson lost to Australia’s Slobhan Drake-Brockman, 6-2, 6-2.

Kim De Weille of Holland defeated Rancho Palo Verdes’ Janet Lee, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, and advances to play Drake-Brockman.

Brandis Braverman, a 6-3, 6-1 winner over top-seeded Jolene Watanabe Tuesday, plays unseeded Stephanie Mabry at 10 a.m. today.