Shiho Akita upsets Nungnadda Wannasuk to enter semis – Chang ITF Pro circuit 2012
Seventh seed, Shiho Akita from Japan, rallied past the third seed, Nungnadda Wannasuk, in a three-set thriller at the Chang ITF Pro Circuit 2012 on Thursday.
The Japanese seed nudged up a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 victory against the local star to secure a place in the final four at this ITF (International Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place in Bangkok, Thailand.
Akita displayed awe-inspiring skills to inch closer towards the title in front of a pessimist crowd. She needed almost two hours to progress at this outdoor hard court event.
The 22-year-old made quick in-roads at the Rama Garden Sports Complex. She winded up the opening four games with two breaks of serve. After Wannasuk came on the score sheet in the fifth game, the Japanese held her remaining serves with poise and eventually
sealed the opener by winning six games to two. She warded off the only breakpoint she came across and cashed two out of four break chances to stay on track.
The world number 449 rebounded in the following set. She got the crucial break in the opening game and then held her composure, subsequently swiping her remaining serves with ease. The Thai cashed the only break opportunity in the first game and held her
entire serves without facing any breakpoint, ultimately carving out the equaliser by winning six games to four.
Ranked 566th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Akita sought her early rhythm again in the deciding set. She wiped out the opening three games before Wannasuk could come on the score sheet. The Japanese maintained consistency
in her game after that and consequently clinched the set with a breadstick.
Akita is coming off after losing in the qualifying competition at the Toyota ITF in Japan. Adding further to her misery, the Japanese exited from the opening or early rounds form all the tournaments she entered.
Up next for Akita is the second seed, Xin Wen, who outshined the fifth seed, Yafan Wang, in straight sets to set up this meeting. The Chinese seed dominated throughout her battle and eventually registered a 6-2, 7-5 victory.
Tags: