Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Fatma Al Nabhani’s winning run continued in the $15,000 ITF Women’s Pro Circuit tournament in Thailand with the Omani star progressing in both the singles and doubles competitions on Wednesday.
Despite a taxing scheduling that saw her playing two matches within hours, Fatma showed true spirit and great determination to move into the quarterfinals of the singles and the semifinals of the doubles competition.
In a second round match of the singles competition, which turned out to be a two hour and 43 minutes three-set slug-fest, the Omani top seed had to stave off a stiff challenge from Thai wild card Tamachan Momkoonthod before emerging a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) winner.
In Thursday’s quarterfinals, Fatma will take on Indian eighth seed Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal, who advanced to last eight after a straight sets 6-4, 6-2 win over Han Sung-Hee of South Korea.
In the doubles, meanwhile, Fatma and her Russian partner Angelina Gabueva brushed aside the challenge of Yeong Won Jeon of South Korea and Yuqi Sheng of China for a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
In the semifinals, scheduled to be played on Thursday, Fatma and Angelina will clash with Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej and Krean Han Sung-Hee.
Patcharin and Sung-Hee moved up after upsetting second seeds Yuki Naito of Japan and Alicia Smith of Australia in a 6-4, 6-0 win.
