Canberra Velocity’s Asia-Pacific Tennis League campaign came to a sudden halt at Melbourne Park tonight.
Velocity, the fourth seed, lost 4-2 against the highly fancied WA Giants in a thrilling quarter-final.
It all came down to the doubles, with Velocity leading by one set after the singles rubbers were completed.
Canberra’s campaign started disastrously, however, with Velocity losing its opening two singles matches.
Former Australian Open junior singles finalist Jessica Moore was too good for Canberra’s Alison Bai, winning 4-2, 4-2; while Tyra Calderwood started strongly before losing 2-4, 4-1, 4-2 to flashy Astra Sharma.
Baseliner Nicole Hoynaski continued her unbeaten streak in the ATL competition when she clawed the deficit back to two rubbers to one.
The talented 18-year-old broke Katie O’Shae in the fifth game of the opening set and from there was never challenged, winning 4-2, 4-2.
Velocity squared the tie when Canberra teenager Ashley Keir beat Marisa Gianotti 4-2, 4-2.
Keir dominated the match from the baseline, breaking in the fifth game of both sets.
However, Hoynaski and Keir couldn’t continue their good form and were outclassed by Sharma and Gianotti in the doubles, winning only two games.
Bai and Calderwood then lost to Moore and O’Shea 4-3 (5-0), 4-2.
Calderwood was tonight left to rue missed opportunities.
“They played pretty well. It was a tough tie [but] we had our chances and just didn’t get them,” she said.
“I must admit I think I would have liked Hawk-eye out there today because I think I got a few dodgy calls that I would have liked to challenge, but I didn’t have that luxury.”
Velocity now plays Brisbane’s Shaw Park Sharks tomorrow in the playoff to decide the 5th to 8h placings
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