Russia and South Korea team up for title
SOUTH Korean Kim Na Ri and Russian Anastasia Pivovarova lifted their first doubles title together after brushing aside Serbian Natalija Kostic and Japanese Michika Ozeki 6-4 6-2 in the final of the US$25,000 ITF Women’s Circuit in Hua Hin yesterday.
It was Kim’s third doubles trophy this year after she teamed up with Lee Pei-Chi of Taiwan for two wins in Yeongwol, South Korea.
For the former world No 93 Pivovarova –she is currently down at No 491 – this was her first doubles success since she won in California in 2010. She and Kim shared the winning prize money of US$1,437.
In the singles semi-finals, top seed and defending champion Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands barely broke sweat as her rival Tamaryn Hendler of Belgium retired with back injury right after just one game.
The world No 138, who came back from a set and 0-5 down to beat local hope Nicha Lertpitaksinchai in the dramatic final 12 months ago, is looking for her second crown in 2017 after winning a clay tournament in her home country in July.
She will take on second seed Jacqueline Cako of the United States, a 6-4 6-1 winner over Pranjata Yadlapali of India, in the final today.
