South Africa's top-ranked player, Isabella Kruger, kept the flag flying high on Wednesday, digging deep to book her place in the quarterfinals of the WIPHOLD International, an ITF World Tennis Tour W50 tournament being played in Pretoria.
Kruger defeated Ekaterina Shalimova 7-6 2-6 6-4 in their second-round match.
"It was a long match today and I think the most important thing was just to have a tough mentality on court. It was 4-4 in the third set, so it was super close and I'm happy I was able to pull through," Kruger said.
"It means a lot for me to reach the quarterfinals of this tournament. It was great for all the South African players to get this experience and I'm glad to get another match and another opportunity."
Quarterfinal bound for Isabella Kruger ➡️
— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) February 21, 2024
The South Africa star wins a 🎢 of a match over Ekaterina Shalimova 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-4 which lasted 2 hours and 38 minutes.
Way to go, Bella! 🙌#WIPHOLDinternational
📸 Barco Greeff pic.twitter.com/fFb2yFRl5n
The only other SA player remaining in the main draw, teenager Lilitha Ndungane, was unable to progress further in the tournament.
After doing well to reach the last 16, Ndungane lost to Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales of Spain, who earned a 6-1 6-2 victory.
South African qualifier Lilitha Ndungane put up a fight but ultimately went down to the experienced Spaniard, fourth seed Maristan Guiomar, 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of the WIPHOLD International.
— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) February 21, 2024
What a great effort from Lilitha! 👏#WIPHOLDinternational
📸 Barco Greeff pic.twitter.com/i8R9cT4lzM
In the biggest surprise of the day, No 3 seed Xiaodi You of China crashed out after falling to Israeli player Lina Glushko, who picked up a 6-3 6-4 win to keep her title hopes alive.
Kruger will be back in action on Thursday, but she will have to be at her best as she faces Brazilian top seed Laura Pigossi for a place in the semifinals.
SINGLES
SECOND-ROUND RESULTS
[1] Laura Pigossi (BRA) bt Clervie Ngouenoue (USA) 6-3, 6-4
[2] Gabriela Knutson (CZE) bt Demi Tran (NED) 6-2, 6-3
[5] Isabella Shinikova (BUL) bt Ekaterina Reyngold 6-7, 6-0, 6-3
[8] Manon Leonard (FRA) bt Alina Charaeva 7-6, 6-4
Kylah Mcphee (AUS) bt Anastasia Kovaleva 7-5, 6-1
Lina Glushko (ISR) bt [3] Xaiodi You (CHN) 6-3, 6-4
Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales (ESP) bt Lilitha Sithenkosi (RSA) 6-1, 6-2
Isabella Kruger (RSA) bt Ekaterina Shalimova 7-6, 2-6, 6-4
Lina Glushko (ISR) bt [3] Xiaodi You (CHN) 6-3, 6-4
DOUBLES
FIRST ROUND
[1] Kaylah Mcphee (AUS)/ Alexandra Osborne (AUS) bt Yimung Dang (CHN)/ Xiaodi You (CHN) 3-6, 6-2, 10-6
[3] Sofia Costoulas (BEL)/ Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL) bt Nahia Berecoechea (FRA)/ Isabella Kruger (RSA) 6-4, 7-6
[4] Polina Iatchenko/ Isabella Shinikova (BUL) bt Cristine Gouws (RSA)/ Tanika Tyra Panaino (RSA) 6-4, 6-1
Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales (ESP)/ Ekaterina Reyngold bt Anastasia Kovaleva/ Ekaterina Shalimova 6-7, 6-0, 10-7
Savanna Al-Nguyen (VIE)/ Amanda Carolina (MEX) v [2] Rina Saigo (JPN)/ Yukina Saigo (JPN) 6-4, 6-1
Lina Glushko (ISR)/ Gabriela Knutson (CZE) bt Isabella Basson (RSA)/ Carle Botha (RSA) 6-3, 6-0
Paris Corley (USA)/ Jaeda Daniel (USA) bt Alyssa Reuger (FRA)/ Demi Tran (NED) 6-1, 6-4
Indy De Vroome (NED)/ Amelie Van Impe (BEL) bt Kaitlyn Leigh Ramduth (RSA)/ Abigayel Vosloo (RSA) 6-1, 6-1