Isabella Shinikova triumphs over Victoria Kan to reach final round – Antalya ITF 2012
Bulgarian starlet, Isabella Shinikova, shocked the fifth seed, Victoria Kan, in straight sets at the Antalya ITF 2012 on Saturday. She penned down a 6-2, 6-2 victory against the Russian to power into the title-round at this ITF (International Tennis Federation)
Women’s Circuit event taking place in Antalya, Turkey.
Seeded third in this event, Shinikova displayed brilliant skills to overpower Kan in their first encounter. After recording the victory in one hour and 15 minutes, the Bulgarian comfortably progressed into the final showdown at this outdoor clay court tournament
taking place from 17th to 23rd December.
Shinikova high-spiritedly entered the Go Tennis Academy. She reeled off the opening three games with two breaks of serve. Despite losing her serve in the fourth game, the Bulgarian maintained her intensity and swiped her remaining serves. She failed to block
the only breakpoint she came across but capitalised on three out of seven break chances to register a 6-2 success.
Ranked 376th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Shinikova kept her momentum sailing into the proceeding set. She drew the first blood early in the set and jumped to a 2-0. Regardless of losing her edge in the very next game,
the Bulgarian broke her opponent’s serve again and leaped to a 4-1 lead. She held her proceeding serves with poise and eventually sealed the set by winning six games to two. The Bulgarian warded off two out of three breakpoints she faced but capitalised both
break opportunities to earn the fame.
The 21-year-old dominated throughout the battle. She spilled fewer unforced errors and double faults. Shinikova also clobbered a better first serve share and fired more winners to prevail.
Next up for Shinikova is the eighth seed, Irina Ramialison, who stomped over her compatriot, Manon Arcangioli, in a three-set thriller to set up this meeting. She made an epic comeback from a set down to record a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory against the seventh
seed. Ramialison made a sloppy start and gifted away the opening set. However, she quickly found her rhythm and eventually carved out the victory with a bagel.
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