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SA polishes away a Polish to make it to Tuks Int’l Tennis Tour second round

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).

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