Tatiana Prozorova Secures Semifinal Victory Over Leolia Jeanjean in Pune ITF Event
In a thrilling display of resilience and strategy, Russian tennis star Tatiana Prozorova overcame French opponent Leolia Jeanjean in the semifinals of the $60,000 ITF Women's tennis tournament at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune. The match, which lasted one hour and 36 minutes, saw Prozorova emerge victorious with a score of 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, setting up a highly anticipated final clash.
A Hard-Fought Battle on the Court
Prozorova, the sixth seed and world number 197, reflected on the intense nature of the contest. "Today's match was incredible. It was very tough because it was up and down, up and down, like usual women's tennis. Nothing special, unfortunately," the 22-year-old remarked with a laugh after her win. This victory marks a significant turnaround from their previous encounter just over a year ago, when Prozorova outlasted Jeanjean in a grueling two-hour-and-38-minute final at the same venue.
In that prior final, Jeanjean, then the favorite and world ranked 117, had been serving for the title at 5-4 in the second set but faltered under pressure. "I just did a great comeback," Prozorova recalled, highlighting her improved tactics this time around. "Well, nothing special, but we saw some problems of Leolia, and we also had a plan for today. And we had a plan B, if the first one does not work, but the first one worked," she quipped, underscoring her strategic preparation.
Prozorova's Road to the Final
Prozorova entered the tournament on a high note, having won a $50,000 event in Delhi two weeks earlier. However, she faced challenges with a throat infection at the start of the week, which tested her endurance. Despite this, she adapted well to the faster courts in Pune, which she found more comfortable compared to slower surfaces. "I just try to be ready for everything that I can meet here. The most important here is surface. It's not very slow. It's a little fast for me, it's very comfortable," she explained.
Her recent form has been impressive, though she suffered a setback last week with a quarterfinal loss to Mananchaya Sawangkaew in Mumbai. This defeat only fueled her determination, as she now prepares to face Belgian second seed Hanne Vandewinkel in the summit clash.
Hanne Vandewinkel Advances to Final with Strategic Win
On the other side of the draw, Belgian talent Hanne Vandewinkel, coached by former world number 13 Kirsten Flipkens, secured her spot in the final with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew. Vandewinkel, world ranked 135, discussed the unique challenges posed by Asian players. "I think for me, they are tough opponents, because they don't really give a lot of free points, and they don't do any stupid decisions," the 21-year-old from Bree said.
She elaborated on the contrast with European players: "Some European players, they can really go for it every shot. They can hit two winners, but then, you know that they will also make four mistakes the next game. With the Asian players, they're not gonna hit a lot of winners, but they're also not gonna make a lot of mistakes. I think that's for me a bit more difficult, because my game style is a bit more based on making the other player play bad and making her do mistakes."
Vandewinkel noted that Mananchaya, the seventh seed, appeared exhausted during their match, likely due to her recent tournament win. "She won last week, so I knew where I had to be in, play my best tennis," Vandewinkel stated. "From the start I saw she was maybe not 100% ... physically and mentally. So I tried to use that in my advantage. And it is still dangerous to play someone who is not feeling 100% because it is tough to keep focused. Sometimes they play so free and loose, so I had to be careful for this, but I'm happy with the way I manage it."
Doubles Final Features Indian Duo
In the doubles event, the Indian pair of Ankita Raina and Shrivalli Rashmikaa advanced to the final with a solid 7-5, 6-3 win over Polina Bakhmutkina of Belgium and Maria Golovina of Russia. They will face Japanese duo Misaki Matsuda and Eri Shimizu, who defeated American Hibah Shaikh and Romania's Arina Gabriela Vasilescu 6-3, 6-3, in the title match.
This tournament highlights the competitive spirit and diverse strategies in women's tennis, with players from around the globe showcasing their skills on the courts of Pune. Fans eagerly await the final showdown between Prozorova and Vandewinkel, promising another exciting chapter in this ITF event.
