TSHWANE, April 8, 2022 (Tennis South Africa Press Release)
South African wildcard Isabella Kruger upset the tournament top seed Tessah Andrianjafitrimo to earn her first semi-final spot at an ITF World Tennis Tour W25 tournament at Ilana Kloss International on Friday.
The 16-year-old ousted the French world No. 151, 6-3, 7-5, needing just 1 hour and 47 minutes to end Andrianjafitrimo’s campaign at the University of Pretoria.
It’s Bella’s day in Tshwane! 🙌
Huge win! Isabella Kruger upsets French top seed Tessah Andrianjafitrimo 6-3, 7-5 to reach her first semi-final at an ITF $25,000 level tournament.
The 16-year-old will next face Eudice Chong for a place in the final.#IlanaKlossInternational pic.twitter.com/DIXaZquCEZ
— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) April 8, 2022
“My match today was really good,” said Kruger.
“I think I played super aggressive from the start which was good.
“In the first set, I really liked how I played but the second set was a bit tighter as she stepped up her game and her level as well, so I had to keep up with her.”
The victory continues a stellar two weeks for Kruger, who earned her career-best ranking of 675 on the WTA Tour this week after reaching the second round of the W60 event in Pretoria.
“I’m super happy that I am through to my first semifinal of a $25,000 event. Now I will focus on the next match,” added Kruger.
Next up for Kruger will be a semifinal clash with World No. 392 Eudice Chong from Hong Kong. It will be the first meeting between the two.
Chong defeated Urszula Radwanska 7-6(2), 6-2 to book her spot in the last four stage. Earlier in the week, the Hongkongese knocked out last week’s W60 Pretoria champion, Anastasia Tikhonova.
In another quarterfinal match, second seed Valeria Savinykh of Russia booked her ticket in the semifinal round with a straight-sets 6-4, 6-3 victory over compatriot Irina Khromacheva. She will face qualifier Hong Yi Cody Wong of Hong Kong, who upset seventh seed and former World No. 25 Timea Babos of Hungary 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Results
Quarterfinal – Singles
WC-Isabella Kruger (RSA) bt 1-Tessah Andrianjafitrimo (FRA) 6-3, 7-5
2-Valeria Savinykh (RUS) bt Irina Khromacheva (RUS) 6-4, 6-3
Eudice Chong (HKG) bt Urszula Radwanska (POL) 7-6(2), 6-2
Q-Hong Yi Cody Wong (HKG) bt 7-Timea Babos (HUN) 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
