Yi-Miao Zhou trounces Kurumi Nara to enter semis – Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge 2012
Chinese contender, Yi-Miao Zhou, triumphed over the Japanese challenger, Kurumi Nara, in straight sets at the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge 2012 on Thursday. She juggled up a 7-5, 6-4 victory against the world number 158 to progress into the semi-finals at
this ITF (International Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place from 26th November to 2nd December in Dubai.
The Chinese youngster showed exceptional skills to stomp over Nara in their fourth meeting at this outdoor hard court event. Zhou lost in her first two occasions but avenged her loss at the HP Japan Women’s Open in Osaka. After bagging this victory in almost
and a half hour, the winning youngster moved a step closer towards the title and the prize money.
Zhou assertively entered the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa. She lost her serve in the opening game and went 0-1 down. The Chinese recovered in the very next game but lost her track again, eventually trailing a 1-2. However, Zhou re-focused after that
and not only recovered but held her remaining serves with poise. She got the breakthrough in the second last game and eventually sealed the opener by winning seven games to five.
Ranked 197th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Zhou carried her winning ways in the following set. She held her composure after exchanging three serve breaks. The Chinese capitalised on another break chance in the last
game and clinched the set with a 6-4 score line.
All in all, the Chinese manipulated an equal first serve share of 72 per cent and amazingly marked 25 out of 44 points on it. She faced two aces but took full advantage of four double faults the Japanese spilled. Zhou dominated throughout the battle and
finished it with 68 points.
Next challenge for Zhou is the eighth seed, Kimiko Date-Krumm from Japan. The 42-year-old made an epic comeback to outclass the Czech starlet, Karolina Pliskova, in a three-set thriller to set up this meeting.
The Kazakhstani teenager, Yulia Putintseva, will join Zhou in the proceeding round. She bounced back to shock sixth seeded Elina Svitolina in a three-set thriller to set up this meeting.
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