Ye-Ra Lee surprises Hao Chen Tang to reach semis – Chang ITF Pro Circuit 2012
South Korea’s Ye-Ra Lee stunned the sixth seeded Chinese, Hao Chen Tang, in straight sets at the Chang ITF Pro Circuit 2012 on Thursday. She nudged up a 6-2, 6-3 victory against the seed to power into the semi-finals at this outdoor hard court tournament
taking place in Bangkok, Thailand.
The underdog showed superb skills to outshine against Tang in their first battle against each other. After recording the victory in almost one and a half hour, Lee comfortably secured a spot in the final four at this ITF (International Tennis Federation)
Women’s Circuit event taking place from 3rd to 9th December.
The former Top 200, Lee re-kindled her spark at the Rama Garden Spot Complex. After Tang kept her serve in the fourth game, the South Korean unveiled her true colours and reeled off four games in a row. She dusted away all four breakpoints she came across
and cashed both break chances to register a 6-2 success.
Ranked 807th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Lee kept momentum rolling in the following set. She drew the first blood in the second game and leaped to a 3-0 lead. The South Korean then held her composure and eventually
sealed the set by winning six games to three. She brushed off both breakpoints she came across and converted one out of three break chances to her advantage.
Overall, the 25-year-old produced a better first serve share and ruled throughout the battle. Last year she made a final showdown at the Goyang ITF last year but failed to reach far this circuit. However, the South Korean lost her lost spark at this event
and secured a spot in the last four.
Next challenge for Lee is the top seed, Qiang Wang from China. The seeded Chinese breezed past the Ukrainian qualifier, Oleksandra Korashvili, with double breadsticks. She penned down a spectacular 6-1, 6-1 score line to set up this meeting.
The second seed, Xin Wen, will accompany the South Korean in the following round. She dumped her fifth seeded compatriot, Yafan Wang, in straight sets to progress at this event.
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