WTA Tour’s Bell Challenge: Highlights from Wednesday
Canada's Rebecca Marino defeated top seeded French ace Marion Bartoli in the second round of the WTA Tour’s Bell Challenge in Quebec on Wednesday. The final match score was 6-3, 6-1.
The 19-year-old Rebecca from British Columbia made her way into the second round of the year’s final Grand Slam, the United States Open tennis tournament before falling at the hands of her American foe, Venus Williams in a total of two sets. The final match
score was 7-6 (3), 6-3.
The American tennis player Melanie Oudin along with Bethanie Mattek-Sands also progressed to the next round. Fifth seeded Melanie got the better of her Georgian opponent Anna Tatishvili in a two setter clash. The final match score was 6-3, 6-0. Mattek-Sands
on the other hand, hammered down sixth seeded German player Julia Goerges in a total of two sets. The final match score was 6-1, 6-4.
In other action on Wednesday, third seeded Lucie Safarova from Czech Republic managed to beat her Swedish tennis foe Johanna Larsson in a two setter clash. The final match score was 6-4, 6-2.
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza provided the greatest upset as she toppled third seeded Akgul Amanmuradova in the second round match of the WTA Tour’s Bell Challenge in Quebec. The final match score was 6-4, 6-3. Mirza has gone through tough times during
this injury-plagued season and the Indian has even been ranked outside the top hundred in WTA world rankings for the last three months. However, Mirza is gaining her confidence back. She won three qualifying and one main draw matches at the United States Open
along with two clashes so far at the ongoing Bell Challenge.
"I am extremely glad and thankful to God as I have managed to beat Akgul at a time when she has been playing quite well on the tour. I feel like I am getting better with every single match and tournament and gradually getting back in form and rhythm and
hoping to carry on like that. I feel extremely blessed after coming back on the courts and I just want to keep improving. I have been working really hard on my form and game for the last couple of months and so I am happy that all my hard work is finally paying
off,” said Mirza on Wednesday.
Amanmuradova, on the other hand after the match said, "It was quite hot out there and Mirza is one of those tricky tennis opponents you can get in the second round. In spite of the fact that she is an unseeded player and returning after her injury however
she performed really well today. I had a couple of opportunities during the first set of the match however I didn’t use them and in the next set I couldn’t play well due to extreme heat. She on the other hand played attackingly and thus deserves today’s victory.”
The day’s other upsets saw a wild card entrant Han Xinyun beat her fifth seeded opponent, Chang Kai-Chen in a total of three sets. The final match score was 1-6, 6-2, 6-4. Maria Elena Camerin also managed to upset seventh seed Alberta Brianti in a three
setter clash. The final match score was 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, while Zhang Shuai defeated Chanelle Scheepers, an eight seeded player in straight sets.
The only two seeds who are still left in the main draw in Quebec will contest their second round clashes on Thursday. Favourite Jarmila Groth will take on Tamarine Tanasugarn where as fourth seeded Ayumi Morita will meet Edina Gallovits.
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