Melanie South continued her push for a place on the main draw of next years Australian Open as she won the $25,000 event in Port Prie, Australia. The tournament win will come as a welcome relief for Mel who had lost in the final in the last two weeks down under.
The top seed opened her account with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Hanne Skak Jensen and then progressed to the QFs with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Brittany Sheed. She was joined in the QFs by Emily-Webley Smith who upset the 7th seed Shiho Hisamatsu 6-4, 7-5 in the opening round and then thrashed Lizaan Du Plessis 6-1, 6-2. Naomi Broady also won her opening round, beating Magail De Lattre 7-5, 6-1 before losing to the 3rd seed Sacha Jones 6-2, 6-4.
In the QFs South eased past Daniella Dominikovic 6-1, 6-4 while Webley-Smith stunned Jones 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. That set up a SF meeting between the two Brits, which South won 6-1, 6-4.
South went on to take the title with victory over Yurika Sema, the 4th seed, 6-3, 6-4 for her 6th career ITF singles title. A good run at one of her remaining events before the years end could see her push for a place in the Australian Open or even in a spot in the top 100. |
