SOUTH AFRICAN wildcard Isabella Kruger battle past Polish former world No.29 Urszula Radwanska to secure her spot in the second round of the Tuks International (ITF $60,000 World Tennis Tour) on Wednesday.
The 16-year-old Kruger, ranked 713 globally, beat the experienced Polish player 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 after 2 hours and 46 minutes.
Kruger was left “incredibly happy” with her performance against a former world top 30 player.
“It was really a tough match against Urszula (Radwanska) today (Wed), as she is a very experienced player, and I am really grateful that I had an opportunity to compete against her.”
“In the first set, I came on a bit dominant and then in the second set she just raised the level to push the match to a decider.
“The deciding set was quite tough, but I am incredibly happy I managed to close out the match. I am just excited to have another opportunity to play in the second-round tomorrow,” added Kruger.
Kruger will next face Russian sixth seed Anastasia Tikhonova, who beat Alice Robbe from France in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(2).
Isabella’s sister, Zoe, the country’s top-ranked player was knocked out in the first round, despite her spirited performance against four-time Grand Slam doubles champion Timea Babos of Hungary.
The tournament’s No 2 seed, Valeria Savinykh of Russia made light work of her first-round opponent British Matilda Mutavdzic, winning 6-2, 6-0 to book her spot in the second round.
Results
Frist round
Singles
WC-Isabella Kruger (RSA) bt Urszula Radwanska (POL) 6-2, 1-6, 7-5
Timea Babos (HUN) bt WC-Zoe Kruger 6-4, 6-2
1- Tessah Andrianjafitrimo (FRA) bt Q-Tamara Curovic (SRB) 6-2, 6-0
2-Valeria Savinykh (RUS) bt Matilda Mutavdzic (GBR) 6-2, 6-0
3-Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) bt Katharina Hobgarski (GER) 6-3, 6-1
4-Richel Hogenkamp (NED) bt Ekaterina Kazionova (RUS) 6-4, 6-4
6-Anastasia Tikhonova (RUS) bt Alice Robbe (FRA) 6-4, 7-6(2)
7-Joanne Zuger (SUI) bt Sara Bejlek (CZE) 6-3, 6-3
8-Yuriko Miyazaki (JPN) bt Q- Hong Yi Cody Wong (HKG) 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
Ekaterina Reyngold (RUS) bt Tyla Wilmot (RSA) 6-2, 6-1
Irina Khromacheva (RUS) bt Valeriya Strakhova (UKR) 6-1, 6-4
Lina Glushko (ISR) bt 5-Katie Swan (GBR) 6-3, 6-3
Carole Monnet (FRA) bt WC-Relebogile Sereo (RSA) 6-0, 6-1
Q-Sandra Samir (EGY) bt Viktoria Morvayova (SVK) 6-3, 7-6(5)
Q-Eudice Wong Chong (HKG) bt Q-Adrienn Nagy (HUN) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
Semi-finals and finals of the event will be broadcast LIVE on SABC Sport on DTT Channel 4, Openview 124 and Livestream on Tennis SA YouTube channel on Saturday, 2 April and Sunday, 3 April, respectively.
Image Frennie Shivambu (South African wildcard Isabella Kruger battle past Polish former world No.29 Urszula Radwanska to secure her spot in the second round of the Tuks International).
