Australian teenagers Olivia Tjandramulia (QLD), Destanee Aiava (VIC), and Naiktha Bains (QLD) have all moved through to the quarterfinals of the ACT Claycourt International #1. The trio reordered strong wins as four seeds tumbled in second round action at the Canberra Tennis Centre.
Tjandramulia was up against world number 166 and top seed Miyu Kato (JPN). It was the Australian, however who dominated the match, taking the first set 6-2. Kato broke early in the second set to go up 2-1, but it would be the last game she won as Tjandramulia went onto win the next 5 games and move into the quarterfinals.
15 year old, Aiava defeated third seed Ya-Hsuan Lee (TPE) in three sets. Aiava raced away with the first set, taking it 6-1 in just 28 minutes. The tables turned in the second with Lee bouncing back to take the second 6-1. Aiava quickly went out to a 5-1 lead and served for the match, but Lee broke back, then held to put the pressure back on Aiava. She made no mistake the second time round, closing out the win against a player ranked 500 spots above her in the WTA rankings.
Bains, who received a wildcard into the tournament, was up against German qualifier Vivian Heisen. Bains looked in trouble early as she went down 3-0, but she fought back to rattle off the next six games and take the first set. Things remained on serve early in the second, until Bains secured the break at 3-2. She closed out the match 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal clash with Aiava.
The news wasn’t so good for fellow Australian’s Arina Rodionova (VIC) and Tammi Patterson (VIC). Seventh seed Rodionova fell to qualifier Pia Konig (AUT), while Patterson lost to fifth seed Sherazad Reix (FRA).
Katy Dunne (GBR) upset sixth seed Erika Sema (JPN), while second seed Jia-Jing Lu (CHN) and fourth seed Eri Hozumi (JPN) progressed through to the quarters.
In doubles action, Ashleigh Barty (QLD) and Rodionova defeated Canberra’s Alison Bai and Lee 6-4, 7-5. Bains and Tjandramulia continued their good form on the doubles court as they defeated Dunne and Barbora Stefkova (CZE) to move through to the semifinals.
Entry into the Canberra Tennis Centre is free, with singles quarterfinals on Friday commencing at 2pm, while doubles semifinals are scheduled not before 4.00pm. Tournament draws and the order of play can be found here. Live scoring is available here. Live streaming is available here
The ACT Claycourt International #1 and #2 will be held at the Canberra Tennis Centre from March 12-27. Each tournament will offer $25,000 in prizemoney and will be held on the recently redeveloped European clay courts.
The tournaments were announced in May, 2015 as part of the Tennis ACT calendar of events secured through the redevelopment of the Canberra Tennis Centre.
The redeveloped Canberra Tennis Centre features 28 tennis courts – including synthetic grass, Italian clay and hardcourt surfaces – as well as four ANZ Tennis Hot Shots courts.
For more information about the Australian Pro Tour visit tennis.com.au/protour
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