Samurai Akita cuts down last Thai hope in Hua Hin
Japanese top seed Shiho Akita reached back-to-back ITF finals after overcoming an injured Noppawan Leertcheewakarn 6-4 6-1 in the semi-finals of the US$25,000 ITF Women’s Circuit at True Arena Hua Hin yesterday.
Akita utilised her fierce forehand to crush the last Thai hope in one hour and 30 minutes in a match interrupted by light rain. The 26-year-old moved into her second straight US$25,000-event final after lifting the title in Noto earlier this month.
“I woke up this morning feeling a bit strange and thought I had caught a cold. But I fought until the end, as I wanted to give the crowd a good show. I didn’t even expect to win,” said Akita No 301 in the world.
Noppawan, a semi-finalist on the ITF Thailand Women’s Circuit in Nonthaburi last month, lost serve at the start but fought back to lead 2-1 before rain interrupted play for 30 minutes. When the match resumed, the Thai went up a break at 4-2 before the Japanese unleashed a series of powerful forehand shots to break back and surged ahead 5-4.
Akita, who also beat Noppawan last month in Japan, managed to break to love in the following game, whipping a forehand cross-court winner to land the opening set.
In the second set, the Thai called for a trainer to treat a back injury that was hampering her movement. Akita took advantage, spraying booming forehands to move her opponent around the court before applying the killer touch with drop shots the Thai could only watch.
“Noppawan was playing well in the first set but she had tough matches before the semi-finals. Obviously she was tired, but she fought until the end,” said Akita, who lined up a final against Chinese teenager Gao Xinyu, who upset third seed Katarzyna Kawa of Poland 6-1 6-3 in just 74 minutes.
“I’m playing well now and I’d like to win, but I can’t expect too much. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and hope for good results,” the Japanese said.
World No 462 Gao, 18, is into her first final at this level after winning two $10,000 events last year.
“I think my opponent was tired from the Thursday’s match and I took my chance. I’m quite nervous as this is my first final in a US$25,000 ITF. My opponent has won her matches easily coming to the final. I have to [try and] take control against her,” said Gao, from Beijing.
In the doubles finals, top pair Laura Pigossi of Brazil and Yana Sizikova of Russia beat Chinese Wei Zhanlan and Zhao Qiangqian 6-4 2-6 10-4.
