The Al Habtoor International Women’s Tennis Challenge witnessed two major surprises, with the defending champion and runner-up of the previous edition being eliminated from the first round by two unknown players. The defending champion, Russian Anastasia Tikhonova, lost to Japan’s Miyama Gochi, two sets to one, and Dutchwoman Ariane Hartono also lost. She was runner-up in last year’s edition of the tournament, against the young Belgian Sofia, in two sets to none.
The Turkish player, Prvo Cengiz, defeated the Croatian Tara emerging from the qualifying round in two sets to none, and the Belarusian rising player from the qualifying round, Evalina, defeated the Russian Katerina Yashina in two sets to nothing.
On the other hand, the doubles draw resulted in the doubles pair consisting of the Czech Anastasia and the Russian Anastasia Tikhanova, “last year’s singles title holder,” facing the doubles pair consisting of the Slovenian Delilah and the Russian Polina. The Russian pair, consisting of Alina and Katerina, will also face the doubles team consisting of the Belgian qualifier. Sofia and her Indian colleague Sahaja, while the doubles team consisting of the Filipino Alexandra and the Greek Fantini will play against the doubles team. Russian Daria and Katerina.
For her part, the tournament director, Noura Badawi, confirmed that the 27th edition of the tournament is on its way to success like previous editions, which confirms the amount of work exerted by the organizing team.
She said: “The work team is distinguished by its professionalism, and thanks to the financial, moral and logistical support from the Al Habtoor Group, the tournament is proceeding with an organizational success that has been appreciated by all the participants and the audience, who are keen to attend daily to watch the tournament matches.”
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