Sport - Tennis

Stefanie makes final

MUMBAI: Stefanie Voegele, just 17 and feeling the jitters as rival Natsumi Hamamura caught up at 5-5 in the second set, steadied herself in time for a 7-5, 7-5 victory in the $25,000 Mumbai University ITF women's tennis tournament.

The clash ended after two hours, five minutes of slugging in searing heat at the new Kalina Campus courts.

The Swiss teenager, a member of the national Fed Cup squad, now faces a huge challenge ahead in Akgul Amanmuradova in Saturday's final. The fourth-seeded Uzbek took apart challenger Yan Chong Chen in straights sets under an hour and will be in better shape for the decider, compared to the effort Stefanie had to put over the last two days. The Swiss teenager, however, has the strokes to match the Uzbek giant and is more mobile but needs to overcome a wavering mind.

Natsumi squandered a 4-1 lead in the first set, then found herself at the receiving end as Stefanie began working round the ball and lashing shots to the baseline.

The Swiss won two straight games at 5-5 for the first set, then found herself ahead 4-1 in the second, keeping the Japanese off balance with deep double-handed backhands and forehands of varying length and pace. The unseeded Japanese, feeling the strain from heat and wincing as drops landed in the net with Stefanie caught at the baseline, found her bearings to claw back. The Swiss teenager recovered focus at a critical time in the semifinals and began moving and hitting like before. The Japanese refused to give up but could not force the pace in view of the limited arsenal at her command.

The results (semifinals): Stefanie Voegele (Sui) bt Natsumi Hamamura (Jpn) 7-5, 7-5; Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzbek) bt Yan Chong Chen (Chn) 6-3, 6-1. — Special Correspondent

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