Zhao advances at Winnipeg Challenger

Canadian Carol Zhao got off to a good start
at the CIBC Wood Gundy Challenger.

Article courtesy of Tennis Canada

The first round of the inaugural CIBC Wood Gundy Challenger has come to a close, with Canadian Carol Zhao picking up a victory in Tuesday action at the $25K ITF Pro Circuit event taking place at the Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club.

In the tournament’s first all-Canadian contest, Zhao took on Wendy Qi-Wen Zhang. After an exciting tiebreaker in the first set ended in Zhao’s favor, she took the momentum into the second set and was able to secure a 7-6(2), 6-4 win to send her into the next round.

Canada’s top-seeded player, Heidi El Tabakh, was upset by Englishwoman Jade Windley. Windley dominated the first set, and although No. 5 seed El Tabakh was able to step it up in the second, she was unable to prevail as she lost 6-0, 7-5.

After dropping the first set against No. 3 seed Samantha Murray of Great Britain, Canadian Elisabeth Fournier held three match points in the third set before Murray pushed the match into a deciding third-set tiebreaker. Falling behind 1-6 in the breaker, Fournier reeled off the next four points but could not complete the comeback as she fell 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5).

Marie-Alexandre Leduc was the third Canadian of the day who was eliminated at the hands of a Brit after dropping a 6-4, 7-5 decision to Naomi Broady. Fellow Canuck Gloria Liang took on Risa Ozaki of Japan, but fell to the No. 4-seeded player in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Ozaki’s compatriot, Riko Sawayanagi, also ousted Canadian Sonja Molar 6-4, 6-2.

One more Canadian was set to play Tuesday evening in Winnipeg, with qualifier Petra Januskova taking on No. 2 seed Olivia Rogowska of Australia.

Tennis fans located outside of Winnipeg can follow the live scoring of the tournament at www.tenniscanada.com. For more information on the CIBC Wood Gundy Challenger, visit www.winnipegchallenger.com.