Morning to forget for Team Europe
Team Europe had a difficult time yesterday at the Vodafone Arena in Suva as they lost all four of their second round matches in the Cadet Girls’ singles.
Latin America’s Livia Lima came from 0-2 down against Jamila Laurenti to win in five games against the Italian. This week has been the firsttime that Lima has encountered the anti-spin twiddling style of Laurenti. It’s taken her time, but now she feels like she is finding her rhythm against the unique technique. “Despite being down two games, the match had been close. I knew I was playing the right game and just had to concentrate,” said Lima
On the neighbouring court, Elena Zaharia also went down in five games against Team North America’s Rachel Sung. With one match to go Zaharia, the no.5 seed, is now in limbo as to whether she will be to take a top two spot in the group. Meanwhile, Team Hopes’ Anna Hursey had a memorable morning, also at the expense of Team Eurpope. After surviving a five-game battle in her opening match, she stepped things up a gear four round two.
Up against Team Europe’s Elizabet Abraamian, Hursey came out a new player. On paper Abraamian should have dominated. Ranked 11th in the world in Cadet Girls, she is some eighty places higher than her opponent. That’s on paper at least.
With the poise of an athlete beyond her years, Hursey took full control of the match and won 3-1, and now looks on track to qualify for the main draw. The last loss for Team Europe came at the hands of Asia’s Ryu Hanna, who saw off Natalia Brinza.
This time however it was less of a surprise, with Ryu the number 6 seed here in Suva.