Maria Lourdes Carle has advanced to her first WTA Challenger final…

The 23-year-old Argentine professional tennis player, the No. 8 seed, has reached the final of the Argentina Open by defeating No. 7 seed Julia Riera 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday evening.

Carle, ranked No 175, will play Brazilian Laura Pigossi, the No 5 seed, next.

In the previous rounds of the Argentinian WTA 125 tournament, Carle won against Brazilian Gabriela Ce (3-6, 6-0, 6-3), Ipek Oz (6-1, 6-3) and Frenchwoman Diane Parry, the top seed (7-6 (2), 6-3).

Riera, ranked No 163, defeated Frenchwoman Selena Janicijevic (7-5, 6-3), Romanian Miriam Bulgaru (6-2, 6-3) and Slovenian Polona Hercog (6-3, 6-4) earlier in the tournament.

On the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour, Carle has won 12 singles titles and five doubles titles.