TSHWANE, March 31, 2022 (Tennis SA Press Release)
South African wildcard Isabella Kruger‘s run in the Tuks International singles event came to an end on Thursday at the hands of Anastasia Tikhonova with the Russian sixth seed winning their second-round clash in straight sets.
The 16-year-old Kruger, who won her first match at the ITF World Tennis Tour W60 tournament on Wednesday, went down 6-4, 6-3 in a match that lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Kruger was excited reaching the second round and her performance in Tshwane is something she will be looking to build on.
Isabella Kruger’s run in the Tuks International singles event has ended in the second round as the South African wildcard lost 6-4 6-3 to 6th seed Anastasia Tikhonova.
The 16-year-old won her first ITF $60,000 match on Wednesday, beating Urszula Radwanska.#TuksInternational pic.twitter.com/UAXMhbTTfL
— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) March 31, 2022
“The match was quite tough today, I played against an experienced player, and she was there every point fighting,” said Kruger.
“Maybe things could have turned out differently had I made a few unforced errors as one cannot afford to make so many unforced errors against an experienced player.
“Nevertheless, I am happy I got through the first round and an opportunity to play in this tournament. Now my focus will be on the doubles.”
Isabella and her sister, Zoe, are through to the doubles quarter-final round where they go up against Mana Ayukawa of Japan and Joanne Zuger from Switzerland.
Tikhonova, who is coached by Andrey Rublev’s mother, Marina Marenko, will next go up against either Dutch fourth seed Richel Hogenkamp or Ekaterina Reyngold.
Tournament’s top seed Tessah Adrianjafitrimo of France survived a second set scare to record a battling 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory over qualifier Eudice Wong Chong from Hong Kong in the second round after two hours and 52 minutes.
The 23-year-old looked in grave danger as she was swamped by Chong’s booming serve and better hard-court game in the second set on Court 5.
Andrianjafirimo next faces British eighth seed Yuriko Lily Miyazaki who toppled four-time Grand Slam doubles champion Timea Babos 6-1, 7-5.
Results
Second round – Singles
1- Tessah Andrianjafitrimo (FRA) bt Q-Eudice Wong Chong (HKG) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
2-Valeria Savinykh (RUS) bt Maja Chwalinska (POL) 6-3, 7-6(5)
6-Anastasia Tikhonova (RUS) bt WC-Isabella Kruger (RSA) 6-4, 6-3
7-Joanne Zuger (SUI) bt Irina Khromacheva (RUS) 7-6(4), 6-2
8-Yuriko Miyazaki (JPN) bt Timea Babos (HUN) 6-1, 7-5
Lina Glushko (ISR) bt Q-Sandra Samir (EGY) w/o
Carole Monnet (FRA) bt 3-Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
