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Top Seed Camerin Survives Scare at Tashkent
Posted on October 3, 2006
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- Top seed Maria Elena Camerin escaped a first round upset Monday at the Tashkent Open 2006.
Chinese qualifier Ren Jing, the world No.304, served for the match in the third set, but committed three backhand errors that cost her the game. Camerin capitalized on her opponent's inexperience and won 61 57 75 in two hours, 26 minutes.
"It was going to be hard for her to close the match," Camerin said. "It's happened to me also, when I played against much higher-ranked players. The first match (of a tournament) is never easy and I did not play well. The key today was fighting and hanging in there."
No.5 seed Anastasiya Yakimova, however, didn't survive her first match. Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova overthrew her, 63 76(5), on Monday. Tulyaganova, a former Top 20 player, took control early and quickly claimed the first set. She couldn't maintain the same level of intensity, though, and Yakimova, a good mover with good anticipation, started wearing her down. Tulyaganova survived a breakpoint in the sixth game of the second set and held on to force the tie-break. A forehand error and a muffed overhead put her 5-3 behind but she rallied and won the next three points, getting to match point with a half-volley which Yakimova thought was long. It might have upset Yakimova's composure because she double faulted to end the match.
Tulyaganova was happy about her win and said she hoped to do better in the coming matches. She next plays Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn, who eliminated last year's runner-up Akgul Amanmuradova, 64 75.
Amanmuradova, also from Uzbekistan, was hampered by an ankle injury and looked uncomfortable moving, especially in the first set. Her discomfort was obvious and even Tanasugarn said she felt her opponent was slower than usual. Amanmuradova was bitterly disappointed after the defeat, given the huge expectations after her sensational run last year.
Meanwhile, No.4 seed Alona Bondarenko withdrew. She suffered a wrist injury while winning the Luxembourg final against Francesca Schiavone on Sunday. Bondarenko's slot was filled by Ukraine's Mariya Koryttseva.
Other Monday winners were Alla Kudryavtseva and lucky loser Ekaterina Dzehalevich.
On Tuesday, No.2 seed Elena Vesnina faces Shengnan Sun.
-- WTA
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