Alison Bai’s (ACT) dream run at the Apis Canberra International came to an end on Saturday after 17-year-old Destanee Aiava (VIC) won their semifinal 6-3 7-5.
Bai, ranked 604, dropped serve early in the first set and was on the back foot from then on against the tournament’s fourth seed.
“I started off slowly,” Bai said. “I knew she was a good ball-striker but I hadn’t played her or hit with her before so I took a while to figure her out.
“In the end she was too solid off both sides and didn’t give me many opportunities. It was a good quality match.”
The hometown favourite said she was happy with her tournament, having knocked out top-seed Arina Rodionova (VIC) in the second round.
“It’s been a great week, I’m really happy with the way I’ve played,” she said.
Aiava, the world’s 169, will play sixth seed Olivia Rogowska (VIC), a 1-6 6-3 6-0 victor against world number 304 Julia Glushko (ISR).
Rogowska, who has been ranked as high as 102 in 2014, came back from a set and three-love down to reach the final.
“Everything happened so fast [today], credit to Julia, she came out really pumped up in the first set and played some really good tennis,” Rogowska said.
“I’m proud of myself how I just hung in there. I wanted to snap, I can get quite emotional but I stayed cool and worked a couple of things out.
“I slowed things down and made her play a couple of extra balls, in a matter of minutes I was back at 3-3 and I thought I’m back in this. By the end of it I was playing some good tennis.”
Rogowska, who has had a “rollercoaster couple of years”, has now won 18 of her past 20 matches on the Pro Tour circuit in Australia, winning titles in Cairns and Penrith, along with a semifinal appearance in Brisbane.
The difference, she said, was simply a change of mindset.
“I think I’ve just matured to be honest. I’m approaching my matches in a positive mindset, expecting to battle every match and I feel like that approach has really helped me. I feel like I’ve won some tough matches simply due to my attitude,” she said.
“I don’t feel like I’ve technically changed much with my forehand and backhand. Just really believing in myself.”
She said she was expecting a tough match in the final against Aiava tomorrow.
“Destanee is a very talented up-and-comer who hits an incrediblly hard ball, it’s going to be tough,” Rogowska said.
“[But] I been serving really well and moving really well and my confidence is really high, so I believe I can do well [in the final].”
The women’s final will take place at 11.00am at the Canberra Tennis Centre. Entry is by gold coin donation, with limited seating available on a first come basis.
In the men’s final Matthew Ebden (WA) will take on Taro Daniel (JPN), not before 12.00pm.
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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