Fatma fails to clear first hurdle in singles competition in Egypt

MUSCAT: A day after reaching the doubles quarterfinals, Fatma Al Nabhani failed to clear the first hurdle in the singles competition of the $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit Sharm El Sheikh tournament in Egypt on Wednesday.

Despite playing her best tennis, the Omani star came up short in a two hour and 20 minute slugfest against Egyptian qualifier Lamis Al Hussein Abdel Aziz.

After winning the first set at 7-5, Fatma lost the second rather easily before Lamis clinched the three-set thriller 5-7, 6-1, 7-5.

Though her singles challenge ended, Fatma is still with a chance to win doubles honours with her Russian partner Angelina Gabueva. Fatma and Angelina are scheduled to play their doubles quarterfinals against Indian pair of Rutuja Bhosale and Kanika Vaidya on Thursday.

In their first round match on Tuesday, Fatma and Angelina took just 56 minutes to brush aside the challenge of Serbian Barbara Bonic and Australian Jelena Stojanvic 6-2, 6-0.

The Indians, on the other hand, upset second seeds Nudina Luangnam of Thailand and Shelby Talcott of the U.S. for a 7-6 (11), 6-3 victory.

Fatma, who is looking for the second title of the year, won her first title of 2018 back in March when she lifted the doubles crown in the company of Marian Jade Capadicua of the Philippines in the $15,000 Manama ITF Women’s Circuit tournament.