WTA Tennis • RESULTS AT AEGON INTERNATIONAL EASTBOURNE QUALIFYING

Written by: Staff on 23rd June 2017

WTA Tennis • RESULTS AT AEGON INTERNATIONAL EASTBOURNE QUALIFYING |

Shimmering green courts at Devonshire Park reflected a bright Sussex sky, and hopes were high among the two dozen contenders in today’s WTA qualifying at the Aegon International Eastbourne.

Of the four British wildcards, Katy Dunne [GBR] was first on Court 2, contending with blustery morning conditions. She took on Ying-Ying Duan [CHN] in a tremendous three-hour contest worthy of the main draw.

To the delight of an enthusiastic home crowd, adopted favourite Dunne edged a tight first set on a tie-break. The second swayed back and forth before Duan snatched it at 6-4 to take the match to a pulsating third set which had just about everything including a let for a low-flying seagull. It was often force against finesse, with Dunne bravely and inventively countering Duan’s ferocious returns.

Dunne had two points for a 5-3 lead in the decider, but Duan held serve before edging into position to serve for the match at 6-5. The British girl dug deep and broke to level the set but the ensuing tie-break was a step too far for a gutsy Dunne, and it was the Chinese player who finally claimed her place in the second round 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3).

The Dunne-Duan epic set a high standard for the opening day of the Aegon International Eastbourne, but another cracking three-setter came very close. World No.60 Lara [ESP] faced No.100 Richel Hogenkamp [NED], in a clash that reflected the remarkable depth of talent in women’s tennis. The Dutch girl narrowly claimed the first set 7-5, but Lara bounced back and easily took the second, 6-1, setting up an absorbing final set which see-sawed back and forth before Arruabarrena won the match on a final set tie-break 5-7 6-1 7-6(2).

First winner of the day – in a much shorter match – was Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, who defeated Fangzhou Liu (CHN) 6-2, 6-2. Within minutes, Cirstea was joined in the second round of qualifying by Tsvetana Pironkova [BUL] with an identical straight-sets victory over Marketa Vondrousova [CZE] 6-2 6-2. Meanwhile, seasoned professional Sara Errani [ITA] was no match for Veronica Cepede Royg – the Paraguayan winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.

With the wind dying down as the day progressed, spectators soaked up both the mellow afternoon sun and the full programme of play. Gabrielle Taylor [GBR] fell 2-6, 2-6 to Lauren Davis [USA], then Harriet Dart [GBR] took on Francesca Schiavone [ITA].

Dart defended intelligently and had her moments in the second set, with several stylish winners, but 2010 French Open Champion Schiavone’s power and expert tactical play kept the British woman on the back foot for much of the match. In the end, a fortunate net-cord took the Italian to a 5-2 lead with a wry apologetic smile heavenward, before she clinched victory 6-2 6-2.

Meanwhile – for spectators hastily commuting between matches – Court 3 staged perhaps the most evenly-matched pairing of the day between the athletic Mona Barthel [GER] and Beatriz Haddad Maia [BRA]. Haddad Maia took the first set 6-3 but Barthel struck back to level the match 7-6. Beatriz again looked dominant in the third set and broke for 4-3, but Barthel instantly broke back to push the match the distance. Tennis matches so often turn on tiny moments: the Brazilian player broke serve again and served for the match. But, at the end of a quite sensational 22-stroke rally at 30-30, Beatriz lost the crucial point on the umpire’s call of “not-up”. Barthel took the game and served out to win an enthralling contest 3-6 7-6(6) 7-5.

Elsewhere, Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella was unfortunate to cede to Kristina Kucova 7-6, 6-7, 2-0 ret, while Great British wildcard hope, Katie Swan, took on Varvara Lepchenko [USA]. After losing the first set 1-6 thanks to Lepchenko’s searching, relentless ground-shots, Swan lifted her game in the second set, saving a match point at 5-6 with a particularly brave and handsome winner. The set went to tie-break, but Lepchenko’s firepower and finely tuned judgement were just too strong for Swan 6-1 7-6(3).

There was still time for one more clash before the sun set on Devonshire Park, Su-Wei Hsieh and Kirsten Flipkens fighting out an entertaining contest steeped in tactics, slice and subtlety. The Belgian controlled the first set, Hsieh levelled courtesy of a second-set tie-break, and carried that momentum into the decider, running out the winner 5-7 7-6(6) 7-5.

Women’s qualifying continues on Day Two at the Aegon International, while men’s qualifiers take to the court with Luke Bambridge [GBR] taking on Marek Jaloviec [CZE] and James Ward [GBR] facing Vasek Pospisil [CAN].

Order of play for Saturday 24 June, updated women’s qualifying draw and men’s qualifying draw attached.

Saturday at the Aegon International Eastbourne is Charity Day with £5 from every adult ticket sold going to Friends of Sussex Hospices, the tournament’s official charity. Friends of Sussex Hospices supports the running costs of the 12 hospice care providers that serve the adults and children of Sussex. The work alongside hospices, promoting awareness of the invaluable services provided by them to the community. Tickets are free for children aged 16 and under on Charity Day.

There are still a limited number of Centre Court tickets available on Monday 26 June, with Court 1 and ground passes still available throughout the week.

Centre Court tickets are currently sold out from Tuesday 27 June to Saturday 1 July. Any returned tickets will be available via aegoninternational.co.uk. We strongly advise fans to purchase tickets in advance as it’s likely only Court 1 tickets and ground passes will be available for purchase on the day once the tournament begins.

With the return of the men to the Aegon International, Court 1 ticket holders are set to enjoy a cracking schedule from Monday 26 June to Thursday 29 June with a mix of main draw singles and doubles matches and some great seats still available!

Topics: Aegon Internation, Atp, Barthel, eastbourn tennis news, qualies tennis, Schiavone, Sorana Cirstea, Tennis News, wrta