South Africa’s top-ranked player, Isabella Kruger, kept the flag flying high on Wednesday, digging deep to book her place in the quarterfinals of the Wiphold International, an ITF World Tennis Tour W50 tournament being played at TuksTennis in Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday, 21 February, 2024
After edging the Russian in the first set and conceding the second, Kruger cleaned up the third set to defeat Ekaterina Shalimova 7-6 2-6 6-4 in their second-round match.
“It was a long match today and I think the most important thing was just to have a tough mentality on court. It was 4-4 in the third set, so it was super close, and I’m happy I was able to pull through.”
South African Top-Ranked Tennis Player, Isabella Kruger
“It means a lot for me to reach the quarterfinals of this tournament. It was great for all the South African players to get this experience, and I’m glad to get another match and another opportunity,” Kruger said.
The only other SA player remaining in the main draw, teenager Lilitha Ndungane, was unable to progress further in the tournament. After doing well to reach the last 16, Ndungane lost to Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales of Spain, who earned a 6-1 6-2 victory.
In the biggest surprise of the day, No 3 seed Xiaodi You of China crashed out after falling to Israeli player Lina Glushko, who picked up a 6-3 6-4 win to keep her title hopes alive.
Kruger will be back in action on Thursday, and she will have to be at her best as she faces Brazilian top seed Laura Pigossi for a place in the semifinals.
Second Round Results at the $40,000 Wiphold International in Pretoria from 18-24 February, 2024
[1] Laura Pigossi (BRA) bt Clervie Ngouenoue (USA) 6-3, 6-4
[2] Gabriela Knutson (CZE) bt Demi Tran (NED) 6-2, 6-3
[5] Isabella Shinikova (BUL) bt Ekaterina Reyngold 6-7, 6-0, 6-3
[8] Manon Leonard (FRA) bt Alina Charaeva 7-6, 6-4
Kylah Mcphee (AUS) bt Anastasia Kovaleva 7-5, 6-1
Lina Glushko (ISR) bt [3] Xaiodi You (CHN) 6-3, 6-4
Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales (ESP) bt Lilitha Sithenkosi (RSA) 6-1, 6-2
Isabella Kruger (RSA) bt Ekaterina Shalimova 7-6, 2-6, 6-4
First Round Doubles Results at the $40,000 Wiphold International in Pretoria on Wednesday, 21 February, 2024
[1] Kaylah Mcphee (AUS)/ Alexandra Osborne (AUS) bt Yimung Dang (CHN)/ Xiaodi You (CHN) 3-6, 6-2, 10-6
[3] Sofia Costoulas (BEL)/ Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL) bt Nahia Berecoechea (FRA)/ Isabella Kruger (RSA) 6-4, 7-6
[4] Polina Iatchenko/ Isabella Shinikova (BUL) bt Cristine Gouws (RSA)/ Tanika Tyra Panaino (RSA) 6-4, 6-1
Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales (ESP)/ Ekaterina Reyngold bt Anastasia Kovaleva/ Ekaterina Shalimova 6-7, 6-0, 10-7
Savanna Al-Nguyen (VIE)/ Amanda Carolina (MEX) vs [2] Rina Saigo (JPN)/ Yukina Saigo (JPN) 6-4, 6-1
Lina Glushko (ISR)/ Gabriela Knutson (CZE) bt Isabella Basson (RSA)/ Carle Botha (RSA) 6-3, 6-0
Paris Corley (USA)/ Jaeda Daniel (USA) bt Alyssa Reuger (FRA)/ Demi Tran (NED) 6-1, 6-4
Indy de Vroome (NED)/ Amelie van Impe (BEL) bt Kaitlyn Leigh Ramduth (RSA)/ Abigayel Vosloo (RSA) 6-1, 6-1
Original Copy: Tennis South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: South Africa’s top-ranked player, Isabella Kruger (pictured), kept the flag flying high on Wednesday, digging deep to book her place in the quarterfinals of the Wiphold International, an ITF World Tennis Tour W50 tournament being played at TuksTennis in Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday, 20 February, 2024. Photo: Barco Greeff
Photo 2 Caption: South African qualifier Lilitha Ndungane (pictured) was unable to progress further in the tournament after losing her second-round match on Wednesday in straight sets to Spain’s Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales in Pretoria. Photo: Barco Greeff
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