By Glenys Furness
- Ranah Stoiber made the final in Tunisia
- Brit defeated top seed en route
MONASTIR, TUNISIA – Ranah Stoiber entered the ITF event and was unseeded. The Brit made the final and defeated the top seed along the way.
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Brit of the Week
Ranah Stoiber entered the ITF event and was unseeded. In the first round the young Brit was against qualifier Vanessa Teiusanu. The Romanian found the 18-year-old Brit too strong as Stoiber dominated from the outset. The Brit barely put a foot wrong and soon moved into the next round in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.
In the second round the young Brit was drawn against Natalia Siediska. The German top seed had eased through the first round but was unable to take to the court against Stoiber. The young Brit moved on into the next round without hitting a ball 0-0 (RET).
The quarter-final saw the Brit against Marente Sijbesma. The Dutch player was outclassed by Stoiber in the first set, as the young Brit dominated to take the lead. The second set was a little closer as Sijbesma found range. Eventually, the young Brit managed to break serve and book a spot in the next round 6-1, 6-4.
In the semi-final Stoiber was against Milana Zhabrailova. The 18-year-old broke serve in the first set and took the lead. The second was much closer as Zhabrailova stayed with the Brit and forced a tiebreak. In the breaker it was the Brit who eased ahead and took the match in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(4).
The final saw the Brit against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. The first set was very close and looked to be heading to a tiebreak. However, the Canadian managed to break the Brit serve right at the end to take the lead. The second set saw the Brit re-group and break Branstine to level up the match. The final set could have gone either way. Unfortunately, the Canadian broke the serve of Stoiber and lifted the trophy 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Honourable Mention
Emilie Lindh Gallagher entered the ITF event in Solarino, Italy. The Brit came through qualifying and made the main draw. In the first round the Brit was against Viktoria Morvayova. Lindh Gallagher and the Slovakian went toe to toe in the first set and forced a tiebreak. In the breaker the Brit dominated and eased ahead. The second set saw the Brit break serve and move into the next round 7-6(1), 6-4.
In the second round the Brit was against Lisa Pigato. The Italian defeated the fifth seed in the first round and was looking to progress. Lindh Gallagher, though, kept up the momentum from the first round. The Brit secured the break of serve in the first set and took the lead. Pigato tried to mount a fight back in the second set, but the Brit qualifier broke early and moved into the next round 6-4, 6-3.
The quarter-final saw the Brit against third seed Giorgia Pedone. The Italian stayed with Lindh Gallagher in the first set, until the qualifier broke serve and moved ahead. The second set saw the Brit dominate the Italian, who struggled to hold serve. Lindh Gallagher moved through in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
In the semi-final Estonian Maileen Nuudi was on the other side of the net. This proved to be the toughest match for the Brit to date. Lindh Gallagher dominated the first set and took the lead. The second set saw Nuudi fight back and break the Brit to level up the match. The final set though, once again saw the Brit dominate and move into the final 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
The final pitched the Brit against another qualifier Linda Klimovicova. The Czech broke the Brit to claim the first set. However, Lindh Gallagher re-grouped in the second set and forced a tiebreak. The Brit edged the breaker to level up the match. The final set saw Klimovicova dominate the Brit and lift the title 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1.
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Challenger & ITF Round Up
Alisha Reayer was defeated by Jiho Shin in the first round in Monastir 6-2, 7-5.
Liam Broady was defeated by Stefano Travaglia in the first round in Helsinki 6-4, 6-2.
Charles Broom was defeated by Dominik Koepfer in the first round in Calgary 6-2, 6-3.
Patrick Brady was defeated by Joao Sousa in the first round in Calgary 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Ryan Peniston was defeated by Andres Martin in the first round in Calgary 6-3, 6-4.
Toby Samuel was defeated by Andres Martin in the second round in Calgary 7-5, 6-4.
Eden Silva was defeated by Jamie Loeb in the second round in Calgary 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Sarah Beth Grey was defeated by Stacey Fung in the second round in Calgary 6-2, 7-5.
Johannus Monday was defeated by Gabriel Debru in the first round in Knoxville 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Aidan McHugh was defeated by Denis Kudla in the quarter-final in Knoxville 6-3, 7-6(5).
Alastair Gray was defeated by Karl Friberg in the second round in Trnava 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Anton Matusevich was defeated by Lukas Pokomy in the quarter-final in Trnava 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Harry Wendelken was defeated by Guy Den Heijer in the quarter-final in Heraklion 7-5, 6-2.
Luc Koenig was defeated by Edward Winter in the second round in Austin 6-1, 6-2.
Mark Whitehouse was defeated by Colin Markes in the second round in Austin 1-6, 7-5, 10-6.
William Jansen was defeated by Brian Cernoch in the first round in Winston-Salem 6-4, 7-6(4).
Harry Thursfield was defeated by Braden Shick in the first round in Winston-Salem 7-5, 6-2.
Emilie Hudd was defeated by Garrett Johns in the quarter-final in Winston-Salem 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
Kristina Paskauskas was defeated by Mary Lewis in the second round in Champaign 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.
Felix Gill was defeated by Miljan Zekic in the second round in Benicarlo 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.
Sarah Tatu was defeated by Ruth Roura Llaverias in the second round in Castellon 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Francesca Jones was defeated by Victoria Rodriguez in the third round in Santo Domingo 6-4, 7-5.
Next week Brits play in Danderyd, Drummondville, Champaign, Portugal, USA, Turkey, Tunisia, Spain, Greece, Egypt, Japan, Luxembourg & Dominican Republic.
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