Dubai
Cagla Buyukakcay fought her way from the edge for an entertaining 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over defending champion and top seed Alexandra Dulgheru in the quarter-finals of the 18th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge being played at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa.
Dulgheru was all set for a stroll into the last four and remain one step away from becoming the only champion to successfully defend her title as she eased through 6-4 in the first set against the sixth seed Buyukakcay. The Romanian then led 2-0 with an early break, and that is when things started going the Turkish girl’s way.
With nothing to lose, Buyukakcay upped the tempo and fought back to win the second set and then breezed through the third to set up a semi-final meeting against fellow countrywoman and seventh seed Ipek Soylu – a 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (4) winner against fourth seed Kristina Kucova of Slovakia.
No champion has returned and successfully defended her title in the 18 years of this $75,000 tournament so far.
Second seed Klara Koukalova also booked her place in the last four stages with an emphatic 7-5, 6-1 win over Elise Mertens of Belgium, while third seed Alexandra Panova got a measure of Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic for an easy 6-3, 6-1 win.
The battle between the Soylu broke early for a 2-0 cushion, only to see Kucova break back before the Turk registered another two breaks and hurry away with the set 6-1.
However, Kucova came right back in the second with a couple of breaks enough to hand her the set 6-2. In the deciding third set, the Slovakian was cruising ahead 4-1, but Soylu dug in deep, catching her opponent on her weaker back hand to break and draw level 4-4.
There was further intensity in the match as Soylu went in to serve for the set and match with a 5-4 lead. But Kucova broke back and then forced the tie-breaker that the Turkish youngster went on to win 7-4. “I really don’t like going into three sets, but this was a rather bizarre match. She is such a strong player and I allowed my level to dip a bit in the second. Before I knew it, she had won the set,” Soylu lamented later.
“I should have stuck to my strategy of taking the balls a bit early like I did in the first set. There is always something to learn each day. Hopefully I will be sharper and more focused tomorrow. I am just so happy to have made it to the semi-finals here,” she added.
“It will be interesting to take one last step and upset the top seed and defending champion,” she shrugged.
Action will continue on Friday with the first singles and both doubles semi-finals starting at 10 am followed by the second singles semi-final from 1.30 pm. Entry for general public is free.
Results for the quarter-finals of the 18th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge played at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa on Thursday: Ipek Soylu bt Kristina Kucova 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (4); Klara Kuokalova bt Elise Mertens 7-5, 6-1; Alexandra Panova bt Tereza Martincova 6-3, 6-1; Cagla Buyukakcay bt Alexandra Dulgheru 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
-Ends
