Cirotte, Laskutova advance at Islamabad W-15 tournament

Germany’s Anastasiya Kuparev and South Africa’s Wozuko Mdlulwa also secure singles victories

ISLAMABAD:

France’s Astrid Cirotte, Russia’s Ksenia Laskutova and Thailand’s Kamonwan Yodpetch advanced to the second round of the women’s singles at the Junaid Family Foundation World Tennis Women’s Championships in Islamabad.

Cirotte defeated Russia’s Julia Khramtsova 6-3, 6-1, while Laskutova beat Türkiye’s Serife Pelin Sari 6-1, 6-0. Yodpetch overcame Nepal’s Abhilasha Bista 6-1, 6-1 at the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Tennis Complex.

South Africa’s Wozuko Mdlulwa recovered from a set down to defeat South Korea’s Jeong Moon 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, while Germany’s Anastasiya Kuparev beat Russia’s Lilia Piskun 6-1, 6-0.

The Netherlands’ Florentine Dekkers edged Japan’s Suzuna Oigawa 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1, while Czech Republic’s Gloria Levinsky rallied to defeat Denmark’s Elena Jamshidi 1-6, 6-2, 6-4. China’s Ru Xi Wu also advanced after beating Dutch player Emma Van Poppel 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

In first-round singles action, Jamshidi defeated Pakistan’s Romaisa Malik 6-0, 6-0, while Kuparev recovered from losing the opening set to beat Uzbekistan’s Sabrina Olimjanova 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Mdlulwa beat Hong Kong’s Kei Yau Cheung 6-1, 6-2, Dekkers defeated Mexico’s Sabastiani Leon 6-2, 7-5, and Van Poppel recorded a 6-0, 6-0 win over South Africa’s Nissa Finnigan.

In the women’s doubles first round, Japan’s Oigawa and South Korea’s Moon defeated Pakistan’s Ushna Suhail and Mahin Aftab Qureshi 6-2, 7-5. Hong Kong’s Cheung and Uzbekistan’s Olimjanova beat Pakistan’s Hajra Sohail and Malik 6-2, 6-1.

Russia’s Lilia Piskun and Sofiia Suslova overcame Nepal’s Bista and Russia’s Varvara Rubostava 6-3, 3-6, 10-4. Thailand’s Yodpetch and China’s Wu defeated Russia’s Khramtsova and Laskutova 6-2, 6-2, while Dutch pair Van Poppel and Dekkers beat South Africa’s Finnigan and Russia’s Anna Simkina 6-0, 6-0.

The tournament features 31 players from 17 countries and is sponsored by the Junaid Family Foundation.

Czech Republic Ambassador to Pakistan Ladislav Steinhübel visited the PTF Tennis Complex, watched the matches and interacted with participating players.