Canberra’s own Alison Bai produced the biggest win of her career at the Apis Canberra International on Thursday, beating top seed Arina Rodionova in three gruelling sets.
Bai, the world No.601, hadn’t taken a set off Rodionova in two previous meetings in Canberra before winning 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-4 in 2hr 36min.
“It’s still sinking in,” she said. “With Arina having the year that she’s had and the ranking that she is at the moment, it is probably one of my biggest wins,” she said. “And it’s great to have it in my hometown, in my backyard and on centre court. It was awesome.
“I tried not to get too caught up with who was out there today but I definitely could feel the love, it was fabulous.”
The Canberran was aggressive from the baseline against the world 116th ranked player, attacking the net at every opportunity.
“I knew I had to do something different… I knew I had to be aggressive into her backhand and come into the net, which is what I’m good at, and serve pretty well. In the end taking time away from her and rushing her a little bit definitely put pressure on her.”
The 27-year-old raced to a 5-0 lead in the third set against the Russian-born Australian, before dropping the next four games.
“I was actually having nightmares because it happened in Toowoomba three weeks ago, I was 5-4 up in the third 30-40 returning as well, I was like ‘ok, don’t do what you did last time, play your percentages’ … I tried to compose myself and take it one point at a time. I knew I couldn’t wait for her to give me the match, I had to take it to her and be aggressive.”
In the end only one point separated the pair with Bai winning 114 points to 113.
The 27-year-old will now meet Queensland qualifier Kaylah McPhee, a 1-6 6-4 6-4 winner over American Jennifer Elie, in the quarters-finals on Friday. The match will be 4th on centre court, not before 3.30pm.
Bai admits on paper the match-up against the world No.1091 looks favourable.
“On paper I would say I’m supposed to beat her but she’s had a great tournament, she obviously came through qualifying, which isn’t easy, and she’s had two three-setters the last two days. She’s definitely up-and-coming Australian player,” Bai said.
“I’ll have to play my game, serve well and try to rush her and get into the net when I can and keep being aggressive.”
In other matches, second seed Lizette Cabrera, from Queensland, came from behind to beat NSW’s Alexandra Bozovic 6-7(3) 6-4 6-3, while fourth seed Destanee Aiava lost only four games against Victoria’s Belinda Woolcock.
In the men’s draw, third seed Matthew Ebden set up a quarter-final match-up with Blake Ellis after beating New Zealand’s Rubin Statham 6-2 6-1. Earlier Ellis beat American Evan King 4-6 6-1 6-4.
About the Apis Canberra International
The Apis Canberra International 2017 is on at the Canberra Tennis Centre until November 5 2017. Entry is free with a gold coin donation requested on finals weekend
The full order of play and qualifying draw can be found here
Live streaming for the women can be found here. Live scoring for the women’s event can be found here.
Live streaming and live scoring for the men’s event can be found here
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