Chanel Simmonds cripples Keren Shlomo to grab title – Potchefstroom ITF 2012
Local starlet, Chanel Simmonds, breezed past the third seed, Keren Shlomo, with a breadstick at the Potchefstroom ITF event on Sunday. She jolted down a 6-1, 6-4 victory against the Israeli to claim the crown at this ITF (International Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Seeded top at her home soil event, Simmonds displayed flawless tennis to overpower Shlomo in straight sets. Battling each other for the first time, the South African needed one hour and 15 minutes to grab the title at this outdoor hard court event.
The highest ranked player of the tournament, Simmonds stormed into the Fanie Du Toit Sports Stadium. She drew the first blood in the second game and jumped to a 3-0 lead. After Shlomo came on the score sheet for the first time in the fourth game, the South African unleashed her skills again and eventually bagged the opening set with a breadstick. She brushed off the only breakpoint she came across and cashed both break chances to inch towards her goal.
Standing at her career best rank of 177 at the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Simmonds kept momentum rolling in the following set. She lost her serve in the opening game and went 0-1 down. Apart from recovering in the very next game, the South African lost her serve again and to trail at 1-2. However, the youngster held her composure after that and held her remaining serves with poise. She failed to block both breakpoints she came across but capitalised on three out of six break chances to register a 6-4 success.
Overall, the left-hander from South Africa dominated throughout the battle. She spilled fewer double faults and hammered more winners.
Simmonds reached this spot without losing a single set. The local star devastated fifth seed, Zarah Razafimahatratra from Madagascar, with double bagels to set up this final battle.
The local starlet recently reached title-round at the Gimcheon ITF event where she lost to China’s Yun-Ying Duan in brutal straight sets.
The Israeli on the other end is standing on a dismal 11-match losing straight. However, she displayed top notch skills at this event and reach the final round.
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