ITF Women’s Bengaluru Open: Maria’s experience proves too much for Fruhvirtova in semis
ITF Women’s Bengaluru Open: Maria’s experience proves too much for Fruhvirtova in semis
Experience prevailed over youth as Tatjana Maria edged out Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 in the semifinal of the $100,000 KPB Trust Women’s Open at the KSLTA courts here on Saturday.
Maria, 37, kept her composure her to deflate 19-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova in a match that lasted just under two hours.
In the final on Sunday, top seed Maria will take on seventh seed Leolia Jeanjean, who got past Sara Bejlek 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 in the other last-four outing.
Maria showed tremendous will and athleticism to retrieve balls from all parts of the court. The unexpected long rallies wore down Fruhvirtova, who lost the decider on the back of two unforced errors.
The second set wore a different script, as Fruhvirtova climbed all over Maria’s second serve to hit return winners at will.
Jeanjean, who had lost to Bejlek in their three previous encounters, fought hard to overcome her teenage opponent. The 29-year-old Jeanjean was all grit and fire, refusing to give an inch to Bejlek.
Asked how she plans to counter Maria’s low, vicious slices in the final, Jeanjean said, “I think it’s going to be a long match. Maria doesn’t make many mistakes. The game plan is to stay focused and not get frustrated. It’s rare to find girls who play like Maria. I’ve never played against a girl who slices that much.”
In the doubles final, the American pair of Jessie Aney and Jessica Failla defeated top seed Amina Anshba and Elena Pridankina 6-2, 4-6, 10-6.
