Japan’s Eri Hozumi has claimed the ACT Claycourt International #1 after an epic final with Australian rising star Destanee Aiava (VIC). Ashleigh Barty (QLD) continued her impressive return to tennis, combining with Arina Rodionova (VIC) to win the women’s doubles title.
In a match that went the distance, it was Hozumi who got off to a great start, breaking Aiava in the first game. Aiava managed to break back to level at 3-3, but dropped her next service game to go down a break again. Hozumi then went on to close out the first set 6-3.
Aiava responded quickly, breaking Hozumi in the first game of the second and racing out to a 4-1 lead. She levelled the match at one set all, winning the second set 6-3.
Hozumi broke in the opening game of the third and maintained the break until 4-3 when Aiava fought back to level the scores at 4-4. In an epic battle, the match went into a tiebreak to decide the champion. Hozumi got out to an early lead in the breaker and never looked back, closing it out 7-3 to secure her third title on the ITF Pro tour. Despite the loss, it was a breakthrough week for Aiava, coming through qualifying to make her first Pro Tour final.
In the women’s doubles, Barty and Rodionova were too strong for second seeds, Kanae Hisami (JPN) and Varatchaya Wongteanchai (THA). After taking the first set 6-4, Barty and Rodionova rolled through the second set taking it 6-2. The win was Barty’s second doubles title since returning to the Pro Tour in February.
In qualifying for the ACT Claycourt International #2, Canberra players Ashley Keir and Kaitlin Staines both fell to seeded players. Keir lost to 12th seed Vivian Heisen (GER), while Staines went down to third seed Katharina Lehnert (PHI).
Qualifying action will continue for the second tournament on Monday from 10am. Main draw singles and doubles will commence on Tuesday.
Final Tournament draws for ACT Claycourt International #1 can be found here.
Tournament draws and the order of play for ACT Claycourt International #2 can be found here
Live scoring 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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