Only One Upset In Wellington

Day one of the US$25,000 Configure Express Pro Women’s Challenger, US$15,000 Men’s Futures in Wellington was marked by a bitter wind, an upset in the women’s singles and one Kiwi earning his first international ranking point.

Auckland 18-year-old Adam Lee will gain an ATP ranking after winning his first round match as his Australian opponent, Keyser Harrison withdrew in the second set injured. Although Lee was ahead on the scoreboard 6-4 2-0 and was particularly pleased to get his first point.

“It was really tough out there in the wind, but it was nice to get my point, no matter how it comes,” he said.

Other Kiwis winning into the second round of the tournaments which run until the finals on Sunday 21st included third seed and Kiwi No1 Michael Venus who beat Wellington’s Warwick Foy in the windy conditions. Venus didn’t give Foy any free points to win 6-1 6-1.

North Harbour teenager Anton Bettink was defeated 6-2 6-2 by Australian Ben Mitchell while Stefan Williams(Auckland) found fourth seed Sam Groth too powerful, losing 6-2 6-3. Tournament fifth seed Artem Sitak, the Russian-born, soon to be Kiwi player beat German Richard Becker 6-2 6-3.

Canterbury teenager Leela Beattie had her opportunities against the sixth seed and world No255, Elitsa Kostova(Bulgaria) but was eventually beaten in three sets 6-4 6-7 6-3. The battle of the two Kiwis featuring Katherine Westbury and Chelsea Te Tai went for two hours 40 minutes with Westbury coming away the winner by the strange score of 1-6 6-2 6-1.

The upset of the day was second seed and highly-rated Australian Sally Peers with a ranking of 156 losing to countrywoman, Monika Wejnert 2-6 6-4 7-5.

The big names in the women’s draw come out to play on day 2 (Wednesday 17 November) with world No42 Jarmila Groth of Australia taking on a Japanese player, Chiaki Okadaue who is ranked at 284.

Also New Zealand’s own Sacha Jones plays her first professional match in Wellington, fresh after winning at US$25,000 event in Western Australia on Sunday. Jones who is on the long road back up the rankings after multiple injuries takes on Aussie Tammi Patterson who is 351 in the world. The other Kiwi in action are Canterbury talent Emily Fanning who is just 15 versus the UK’s Melanie South.

In the men’s draw Rubin Statham the tournament eighth seed plays a Frenchman. The clash between Marvin Barker and Martin Colenbrander will keep a Kiwi in the second round no matter what the result while Wellington 16-year-old Olly Sadler takes on Australian Dane Propoggia.

The top men’s seed Brydan Klein(Australia) ranked at 236 has had a chequered past with Tennis Australia despite his talent when he won the Australian Open juniors at age --- and reached a senior high ranking of 174 last year. The 20-year-old takes on countryman Alex Trillini in the first round.


US$25,000 Configure Express Pro Women’s Challenger Women’s singles first round results:
(6)Elitsa Kostova(BUL) bt Leela Beattie v Jade Hopper(Australia) bt Julia Moriarty(Ireland) 6-1 6-2, Monika Wejnert(AUS) bt (2)Sally Peers(AUS) 2-6 6-4 7-5, Isabella Holland(AUS) bt Sung-Hee Han(KOR) 6-1 6-2, Jade Hooper(Australia) bt Julia Moriarty(Ireland) 6-1 6-2, Kumiko Iijima(JPN) bt Keren Shlomo(ISR) 6-1 6-0, (5)Artem Sitak(RUS) bt Richard Becker(GER) 6-2 6-3, Katherine Westbury bt Chelsea Te Tai 1-6 6-2 6-1.
US$15,000 Men’s Futures singles first round results:
(4)Sam Groth(AUS) bt Stefan Williams 6-2 6-3, (3)Michael Venus bt Warwick Foy 6-1 6-1, Sebastian Lavie bt Adam Thompson 6-4 6-3, Adam Lee bt Harrison Keyser(AUS)6-4 2-0 retired , Ben Mitchell(AUS) bt Anton Bettink 6-2 6-2, (7)Harri Heliovaara(FIN) bt Alessandro Bega(ITA) 6-4 6-4


Day 2 Schedule – US$25,000 Configure Express Pro Women’s Challenger, US$15,000 Men’s Futures
(New Zealand unless noted, 10am start unless noted).
Court 1
(1)Jarmilla Groth(Australia) v Chiaki Okadaue(Japan)
Followed by
Men’s singles
Rubin Statham v Gilles De Gouy(France)
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Adam Staub v (2)Sebastian Rieschick(Germany)
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Men’s doubles
Court 2
Women’s singles
(8)Sacha Jones v Tammi Patterson(Australia)
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Men’s singles
Marvin Barker v Martin Colenbrander
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(1)Brydan Klein(Australia) v Alex Trillini(Australia)
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men’s and women’s doubles
Court 3
Women’s singles
Nicole Rottman(Austria) v Anna Zaja(Germany)
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Men’s singles
Todd Volmari(Australia) v Riccardo Sinicropi(Italy)
Court 4
Women’s singles
Gail Brodsky(USA) v Bianca Botto(Peru)
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Arina Rodionova(Russia) v Shiho Akita(Japan)
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men’s and women’s doubles
Court 5
Women’s singles
Nicola Geuer(Germany) v Marija Mirkovic(Australia)
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men’s singles
Joey Swaysland(Australia) v Nima Roshan(Australia)
Court 6
Women’s singles
Melanie South(UK) v Emily Fanning
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men’s singles
Olly Sadler v Dane Propoggia(Australia)
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women’s doubles
Court 9
Women’s singles
Erika Sema(Japan) v Alison Shemon(Australia)
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Julia Glushko(Israel) v Timea Babos(Hungary)
Court 10
Women’s singles
Scarlett Werner(Germany) v (4)Eirini Georgatou(Greece)
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men’s singles
Leon Frost(Australia) v (6)Dayne Kelly(Australia)
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men’s doubles