Zarah Razafimahatratra outruns Ilze Hattingh to reach final – Potchefstroom ITF 2012
Madagascar challenger, Zarah Razafimahatratra, stomped over the local challenger, Ilze Hattingh, in straight sets at the Potchefstroom ITF 2012 on Saturday. She penned down a 6-3, 6-2 victory against the local starlet to power into the final showdown at
this ITF (International Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Seeded fifth in this event, Razafimahatratra remained focused throughout the victory, eventually carving out the victory in almost one hour and 15 minutes. After bagging the victory, Razafimahatratra not only avenged her loss at the ITF/CAT African Closed
Junior 18 and Under Championships but also extended her lead in the head-to-head series by 3-1 against the South African.
Razafimahatratra made a convincing entry at the Fanie du Toit Sports Stadium. She drew the first blood in the second game and jumped to a 3-0 lead. The Madagascar contender lost her serve in the second last game but quickly broke her opponent’s serve again,
eventually clinched the opener with a 6-3 score line. She failed to block the only breakpoint she came across and converted two out of three break chances to her advantage.
Ranked 756th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Razafimahatratra maintained her intensity in the proceeding set. After Hattingh held her serve in the second game, the Madagascar challenger unleashed her skills and reeled
off three games in a row. After the South African held her serve for the second time, Razafimahatratra unveiled her skills again and eventually sealed the set by winning six games to two.
Next up for Razafimahatratra is the seventh seed, Estelle Cascino from France. She battled past the American challenger, Stephanie Kent, in a three-set thriller to set up this battle.
The French seed quickly made on the right track and bagged the opening set. She required a single break of serve in the opening game to record a 6-4 victory.
However, she spilled several unforced errors and eventually received a breadstick. She failed to keep her entire serves and subsequently suffered a breadstick.
Cascino sought her rhythm again in the final set and eventually pocketed the decider with a 6-3 score line.
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