Marie Benoit upsets Yuliya Kalabina in opening round – Antalya ITF 2012
Belgian starlet, Marie Benoit, stunned the fifth seed, Yuliya Kalabina from Russia, in straight sets at the Antalya ITF 2012 on Tuesday. She penned down a 6-2, 6-2 victory against the seeded Russian to secure a spot in the round of 16 at this ITF (International
Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place in Antalya, Turkey.
The left-hander from Belgium displayed brilliant skills and agility to outsmart Kalabina in their first meeting. As a result, Benoit comfortably powered into the second round at this outdoor clay court tournament taking place from 3rd to 9th
December.
Benoit made a comfortable entry at the Go Tennis Academy. She drew the first blood in the third game and took a 3-1 lead. The Belgian broke Kalabina’s serve again after that and eventually sealed the opener by winning six games to two. She brushed off all
three breakpoints she came across and cashed both break chances to inch towards glory.
Ranked 930th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Benoit kept momentum sailing in the following set. She drew the first blood early in the set and then prevailed. The Belgian capitalised on another break chance in the second
last game and eventually clinched the set with a 6-2 score line. She smoothly kept his entire serves with conviction and availed two out of five break chances to achieve her goal.
The 17-year-old achieved her biggest success by registering this upset victory. She is currently seeking her rhythm and form on the ITF events.
Next in line for Benoit is Austria’s Janina Toljan who trashed the Bulgarian challenger, Viktoriya Tomova, in straight sets to set up this meeting.
The top seed, Anastasiya Vasylyeva, will join Toljan in the following round. She destroyed the French challenger, Laetitia Sarrazin, with double breadsticks to progress. The Ukrainian seed lost her serve once but cashed six break opportunities to formulate
a superb 6-1, 6-1 score line. She ruled throughout the battle and pulled out the victory in less than hour.
The Ukrainian will face off the local wild card entrant, Hulya Esen, who recorded a 6-4, 5-1 victory against Spain’s Nuria Parrizas-Diaz.
Tags: