Emina Bektas, the eighth seed from the United States, survived a scare to advance to the final of the Ilana Kloss International, a $25 000 prize-money tournament being held at TuksTennis, University of Pretoria, on Saturday.
The world No 325 Bektas defeated world No 2 junior Sofia Costoulas 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), ending the Belgian rising star’s hot streak to keep her hopes of winning her first title in South Africa alive.
The 29-year-old Bektas won the first set in just 30 minutes but lost the second set to the spirited Costoulas, who easily levelled the score at one set apiece.
The final set was a toss-up, with the players exchanging breaks and lasting just under an hour, but the American eventually won in a tie-break.
INTO THE FINAL ??
— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) March 11, 2023
The eighth seed, ???? Emina Bektas, battles past Belgian world No.2 junior Sophia Costoulas 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) to book her spot into the final in Tshwane. ??
Next up on court ?? ???? Lina Glushko ?? ???? Lulu Sun#IlanaKlossInternational | ?? Frennie Shivambu pic.twitter.com/53O7Lj2GF3
"It's been really good so far in the tournament on my first visit to South Africa," said Bektas, who has 27 titles to her name.
"I actually came here willingly because I knew there was high altitude here, and I really like playing at altitude because it suits my game, suits my serve.
“I've been gaining momentum as the matches progress, but today was especially difficult for me; she (Sophia Costaulas) served exceptionally well, dictated, and put me on the back foot.
"I felt a little bit passive at times, but I think towards the end I was able to loosen up a little bit, had a good amount of energy in the tiebreaker and was able to just put it out," Bektas added.
Bektas' victory set up a championship clash with her doubles partner and No 4 seed Lina Glushko, who progressed after a straight-sets victory over Swiss fifth seed Lulu Sun.
GLUSHKO SOARS INTO THE FINAL ??
— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) March 11, 2023
???? Lina Glushko, the fourth seed, defeats Swiss fifth seed Lulu Sun 6-3, 6-4 to set up a championship showdown with doubles partner Emina Bektas.#IlanaKlossInternational | ?? Frennie Shivambu pic.twitter.com/U4q8lM8bJW
The world No 245 Glushko executed a stunning 6-3, 6-4 demolition of the Swiss world No 250.
Glushko and Bektas will also feature in the doubles final when they face top-seeded pair Georgina Garcia-Perez and Timea Babos, the former world No 1 doubles player and four-time Grand Slam doubles champion, for the title.
The singles final will be played at the University of Pretoria on Sunday and will be broadcast on SABC 2 from 12h00 to 14h00.
SINGLES
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
[4] Lina Glushko (ISR) bt [5] Lulu Sun (SUI) 6-3, 6-4
[8] Emina Bektas (USA) bt Sofia Costoulas (BEL) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4)
DOUBLES
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
[1] Timea Babos (HUN) / Georgina Garcia-Perez (ESP) bt [3] Berfu Cengiz / Ipek Oz (TUK) 4-6, 6-3 [10-5]
[2] Emina Bektas (USA) / Lina Glushko (ISR) bt [4] Jenny Duerst (SUI) / Fanny Ostlund (SWE) 3-6, 6-2 [10-7]