Dubai: The top two seeds eased into the final round as two comebacks were stopped right in their tracks on the second day of day qualifying for the 18th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge being held at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa on Sunday.
Top seed Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar eased her way past Vivian Heisen 6-1, 7-6 (5), while second seed Sandra Samir went through with a fluent 6-1, 6-1 win over Diana Popescu who was making a return to professional tennis after seven years.
UAE-based Magali De Lattre’s comeback to the women’s circuit was cut short when she wilted in three sets against Russia’s Maria Marfutina 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
After a 6-0, 6-0 blanking of Sheril Roy on Saturday, De Lattre was well on her way to victory over fifth seed Marfutina after winning the first set 6-4. But the Russian just dug in deep and took the second set 6-2. In the deciding third, the Portuguese girl – a former winner at the ITF Dubai Juniors – saved two match points, but simply found her Russian opponent too good.
“The main thing is that I enjoyed myself out there after such a long break of four years,” De Lattre told Gulf News.
“Maybe I will be tempted to take part in a few more tournaments from time to time, provided my career in coaching allows me to do so,” she added.
