Tanasugarn gets the better of Sirotkina in Al Habtoor Challenge

Dubai: Wily non-seeded veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn yesterday led all surviving seeds into the second round of the 14th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge being played at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa.

Undaunted by jet lag, Tanasugarn took her time before disposing of a gritty challenge from Russian Marta Sirotkina 6-2, 6-3 to set up an exciting clash against top seed Simona Halep of Romania today.

So far, second seed Anastasia Yakimova is the only seed to fall after she went down in straight sets to Nina Bratchikova on the opening day on Monday.

All of the remaining seven seeds won in straight sets, except for fifth seed Mathilde Johansson, who went through 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 against qualifier Jasmina Tinjic from the Bahamas, while seventh seed Evgeniya Rodina waged a grim battle before winning 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2 against Italy's Maria-Elena Camerin.

But it was the match between Tanasugarn and Sirotkina that was in the spotlight yesterday, with the 34-year-old Thai acting teacher to her much younger opponent from Russia.

Tanasugarn landed in Dubai late on Monday after her final against Kimiko Date-Krumm at the Toyota Cup 2011 in Tokyo. "It does take a little time to adapt to the surface," a jaded Tanasugarn told Gulf News.

"I am feeling tired and jet-lagged, but I knew I had to take my chances and not allow her [Sirotkina] to settle down."

In control

In fact, it was the Russian who broke early and held on for a 2-0 lead, only to see the experienced Thai latch on a double fault and break back for 2-2. Tanasugarn, who beat Japanese veteran Date-Krumm 6-2, 7-5 in Saturday's Toyota Cup 2011 final, then reeled off the next four games to take the set 6-2.

In the second set, the Thai was very much in control as she broke Sirotkina early to coast to a 4-1 lead. But the Russian battled well to come as close as 3-5, before Tanasugarn served out the set and match.

"She hits the ball well and she did play well in patches," Tanasugarn said of her Russian opponent. "I had to play with experience on my side and I think I did pretty well in the end. Last week is already behind me and I want to take this tournament one match at a time."

Tanasugarn will now play top seed Halep, who disposed of qualifier Tara Moore 6-1, 6-4. "She [Halep] is going to be a tough hurdle tomorrow," Tanasugarn predicted.

Yesterday's last singles match was also a high-quality affair, with seventh seed Rodina keeping her poise before winning against Camerin to advance to a meeting against Kristina Mladenovic today.

The challenge from the Gulf also ended with Oman's Fatima Al Nabhani clawing back from 0-5 in the first set to lose 6-7 (6), 0-6 against fourth seed Alexandra Dulgheru. "In fact, I expected the result to be worse. I think I did well, but I really did not have the power as the match progressed," Fatima said.

This year's tournament, held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, is sponsored by Al Habtoor Group, Al Habtoor Motors, Al Habtoor Leighton, Emirates International School, Dubai National Insurance and Reinsurance, Diamond Lease and Al Habtoor Hotels.

Results

First round singles: Simona Halep bt Tara Moore 6-1, 6-4; Tamarine Tanasugarn bt Marta Sirotkina 6-2, 6-3; Olga Govortsova 7-5, 6-3; Alexandra Cadantu bt Mihaela Buzarnescu 7-5, 6-3; Regina Kulikova bt Nastja Kolar 6-4, 6-4; Mathilde Johansson bt Jasmina Tinjic 6-3, 1-6, 6-3; Urszula Radwanska bt Corinna Dentoni 6-0, 6-0; Alexandra Dulgheru bt Fatma Al Nabhani 7-6 (6), 6-0; Arantxa Rus bt Erika Sema 6-4, 6-3; Conny Perrin bt Caroline Garcia 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; Akgul Amanmuradova bt Emily Webley-Smith 6-1, 2-6, 6-4; Evgeniya Rodina bt Maria-Elena Camerin 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2.