Qualifier Julia Valetova of Russia defeated Dhruthi Venugopal 7-6(4), 6-3 in the semifinals of the $10,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
The match could have taken a different turn had Dhruthi converted a set-point on serve at 5-4 in the first set. In the tie-break, Julia pulled ahead from 4-4 to win 7-4. In the second, Julia broke Dhruthi’s serve in the first and ninth games to close out the match.
The results: $25,000 ITF women, Zhengzhou (China): Qualifying event (second round): Natasha Palha bt Qianting Yan (Chn) 6-3, 6-2.
$15,000 ITF women, Hong Kong: Qualifying event (second and final round): Prerna Bhambri bt Naqi Hanatani (Jpn) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1; First round: Prerna bt Wing Kiu Jacquelline Lam (Hkg) 6-1, 6-2.
$10,000 ITF women, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt: Singles (semifinals): Julia Valetova (Rus) bt Dhruthi Venugopal 7-6(4), 6-3.
$10,000 ITF men, Denia (Spain): Qualifying event (first round): Carlos Sanchez Jover (Esp) bt Neeraj Elangovan 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
