South Africa’s leading women’s player Chanel Simmonds battled through to the quarter-final round in over two and a half hours at the Ilana Kloss International (Women’s $25,000 ITF World Tour) in Potchefstroom on Thursday, 12 March 2020.
The 27-year-old Simmonds who toppled top seed on Wednesday was forced to dig deep against British Katy Dunne, eventually wrapping up a 6-2 5-7 6-4 victory in two hours and 36 minutes.
“In the first set I was much more consistent than her (Katy Dunne) while she was making lot of mistakes. In the second set, she started playing a lot better and taking a 5-1 lead, but I fought to get it back at 5-4 and she eventually won the set.
“We had some really long games in the beginning of the third set, but I think I just managed to play better on the important points. She also gave me a few double faults which helped.
“I am very happy to have come through such a tough match. I had a tough match yesterday too, but I think yesterday’s match prepared me for today.
“It is really nice to be in the quarter-finals two weeks in a row,” said Simmonds following her match.
Awaiting her in the next round is unseeded German Anna Zaja, who ruthlessly dismissed Frenchwoman Mallaurie Noel 6-1 6-2 in 77 minutes.
Ilana Kloss International – Women’s $25,000 ITF World Tour:
Caroline Romeo (FRA) bt Laura Pigossi (BRA) 5-7 7-5 6-3
[2] Marina Melnikova (RUS) bt Keila Le Bihan (FRA) 6-3 6-4
[3] Harmony Tan (FRA) bt Paula Kania (POL) 6-3 6-3
Chanel Simmonds (RSA) bt Katy Dunne (GBR) 6-2 5-7 6-4
[5] Simona Waltert (SUI) bt Delien Kleinhans (RSA) 6-1 6-1
Paige Hourigan (NZL) bt Nika Kukharchuk (RUS) 6-1 6-3
Anna Zaja (GER) bt Mallaurie Noel (FRA) 6-1 6-2
Svenja Ochsner (SUI) bt Daria Mishina (RUS) 6-3 7-5
Photo 1 Caption: South African top seed Chanel Simmonds progresses to the quarter-final round of the Ilana Kloss International (Women’s $25,000 ITF World Tour) in Potchefstroom on Thursday, 12 March 2020. Photo: PictureCafe.
With editing by gsport
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