The Canberra Velocity Women’s team have lost a heartbreaking match to the Prospect Flames in the battle for 5th position. With the scores locked at 3-3, and sets level, Velocity lost the match by just 3 games. The loss sees Velocity finish in 7th position at the Asia-Pacific Tennis League (ATL) Playoffs.
Things didn’t get off to a great start for Velocity as both Alison Bai and Ashley Keir dropped their first sets 4-1. With only 9 spots separating Bai and her opponent Jessica Moore in the WTA rankings, it looked as though it would be a tough match. However, Moore continued to dominate in the second, taking it 4-1 to put the Flames up 1-0.
Keir fought back in her match against Olivia Key, to force a decider after taking the second 4-1. Keir broke early in the third and continued to build on her momentum taking the third set 4-1 and levelling at 1-1.
Alexandra Nancarrow faced American Jennifer Ellie at the number two position. Ellie, ranked 415 in the WTA rankings proved too strong for Nancarrow who is just returning from injury, putting the Flames up 2-1 with a 4-1, 4-0 victory.
A tight first set between Tyra Calderwood and Amber Marshall saw it head into a tiebreak. Calderwood dominated the tiebreak, winning it 5-0. With Calderwood up 3-2, and 40-40, she nailed down an ace to secure to win and again level the scores.
With Velocity down a set heading into the doubles, the doubles match ups were going to be crucial to the result. Keir and Calderwood dominated their match against Brooke Milner and Indi-Anna Morris, dropping only 2 games to put Velocity up 3-2. In the other doubles, Bai and Nancarrow won a tight first set 5-3, in a tiebreak. Velocity dropped the second set to Moore and Ellie, to force a deciding tiebreak to decide the match and the tie. The Flame prevailed, winning the tiebreak 5-3, and clinching the victory by 3 games.
The ATL Playoffs bring together eight Men’s and eight Women’s teams from the Asia-Pacific region. The matches will take place on the western courts at Melbourne Park
Canberra Velocity Women 3 (7 sets, 34 games) lost to Prospect Flames 3 (7 sets, 37 games)
Singles
No 1. Alison Bai (CV) l Jessica Moore (PF) 1-4, 1-4
No 2. Alexandra Nancarrow (CV) l Jennifer Ellie (PF) 1-4, 0-4
No 3. Ashley Keir (CV) d Olivia Ley (PF) 1-4, 4-1, 4-1
No 4. Tyra Calderwood (CV) d Amber Marshall (PF) 4-3(0), 4-2
Doubles
No 1. Nancarrow/Bai (CV) l Moore/Ellie 4-3(3), 2-4, 0-1(3)
No 2. Keir/Calderwood (CV) d Milner/Morris 4-0, 4-2
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