Scheepers reaches first WTA quarterfinal
Thursday, 25th February, 2010
Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa reached her first WTA quarterfinal after defeating Tatjana Malek of Germany 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the Malaysian Open on Thursday.
The 26-year-old top-ranked South African was given a scare by Malek before eventually prevailing in two hours and 27 minutes.
The first set belonged to Malek, who had sensationally knocked out second-seeded Li Na of China in the first round on Tuesday. The 22-year-old German broke her older opponent twice but Scheepers fought back in the second set.
The third set was a battle as the heat and humidity started to take its toll on both players. Scheepers, who is based in Houston, Texas, held out to clinch a quarterfinal date with Ayumi Morita of Japan.
In another match, seventh-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia defeated wildcard entry Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand 6-4, 7-5 to reach the last eight. She will next face top-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia.
Also through to the last eight was Austria’s sixth-seeded Sybille Bammer who trounced Uzbekistan’s Akgul Amanmuradova 6-3, 6-0.
By Robert Kemp
The first set belonged to Malek, who had sensationally knocked out second-seeded Li Na of China in the first round on Tuesday. The 22-year-old German broke her older opponent twice but Scheepers fought back in the second set.
The third set was a battle as the heat and humidity started to take its toll on both players. Scheepers, who is based in Houston, Texas, held out to clinch a quarterfinal date with Ayumi Morita of Japan.
In another match, seventh-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia defeated wildcard entry Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand 6-4, 7-5 to reach the last eight. She will next face top-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia.
Also through to the last eight was Austria’s sixth-seeded Sybille Bammer who trounced Uzbekistan’s Akgul Amanmuradova 6-3, 6-0.
By Robert Kemp
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