Sixth-seeded Japanese player Risa Ozaki saved match points to earn a place in the second round of Hobart International qualifying with a 3-6 7-6(8) 6-1 win against Australian wildcard Tammi Patterson today.
Patterson started in convincing form, dropping only seven points on serve to take the first set 6-3 against her higher-ranked opponent. Ozaki, the world No.100, kept fighting and managed to push the second set into a tiebreak.
A tense tiebreak followed, with Ozaki saving match points to take it. With the momentum now in her favour, Ozaki raced through the deciding set 6-1.
Ozaki’s next opponent is Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated Czech Dalila Jakupovic 6-4 3-6 6-4.
Earlier in the day, Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa scored a see-sawing 6-2 2-6 6-2 victory over second seed Cagla Buyukakcay.
The Turkish world No.82 grabbed an early break in the third set, before Soler-Espinosa reeled off six consecutive games to secure her place in the next round.
The Spaniard, ranked No.127, next faces Croatian Jana Fett, who cruised to a 6-0 6-1 victory over Czech Tereza Smitkova.
This is Soler-Espinosa’s fourth visit to Hobart, where she is aiming to qualify for a fourth time. Despite her good record at the tournament, the 29-year-old is not getting ahead of herself.
“I go day by day. I’m at the beginning of the year, I want to play good and improve everything,” she said.
Eighth seed Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain also lost, bundled out by Paraguayan Veronica Cepede Royg 6-1 6-2.
Seventh seed Mandy Minella of Luxembourg advanced with a hard-fought 6-7(1) 6-2 6-3 win over American Julia Boserup.