Szatmari to meet Giraud in summit clash

Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (UNI) Top seed Szatmari Agnes of Romania will take on seventh seed Giraud Marinne of Mauritius in the summit clash for the 25,000 dollars Kerala Open International Women's Tennis tournament here tomorrow.

Earlier, the 20-year-old Romanian defeated Vishika Chhetri Ranganathan of India 6-2, 6-1 and Thailand's Viratprasert Suchanun 6-1, 6-0.

In the semi-finals today, Szatmari continued her devastating form, demolished India's Isha Lakhani in straight sets 6-3, 6-0.

She took only one hour and 15 minutes to end the challenge of Indian lass conceding only two points.

In the second semi-finals, however, seventh seed Giraud Marinne struggled hard to outplay second seed Albanese Lauren. At the end of a three and half hour long do or die battle, the 21-year-old Mauritian girl shattered the hopes of American girl Albanese handed out an upsetting 3-6, 7-6(5) and 6-4 defeat.

The 18-year-old Albanese, who showed brilliance in her previous encounters, succeeded in bagging the first set rather easily 6-3.

However, in the second set saw the score fluctuating.

Stretching to the tie-breaker. The Mauritian girl, who dominated in the tie, ran away with the second set at 7-6(5).

The second set victory infused confidence on Giraud and she continued the form and demolished the hopes of Albanese annexing the final set and the game at 6-4.

Though the Indian girl, who had played well in her previous matches, could not contain the returns and placements of Szatmari, ranked 284 in singles, and surrendered meekly to her rival, ending the lone hope of India.

UNI