Szatmari, Albanese and Giruad enter semi-finals

Thiruvananthapuram, May 17 (UNI) Top seeds Szatmari Agnes of Romania, Albanese Lauren of United States and Giraud Marinne of Mauritius entered the semi-finals of the 25,000 dollar Kerala Open International Women's Tennis tournament here today.

In the quarter final encounter, Szatmari and Giraud won rather easily over Viratprasert of Thailand and WIckmayer Yanina of Belgium, while Albanese struggled hard to conquer Tara Iyer of India.

In a well contested three-hour-long struggle, Tara surrendered 6-7(7), 6-1 and 6-2, after putting up a spirited fight against second seed Albanese.

Tara forced a 3-2 lead in the first set, which ultimately stretched to tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker she regained her rythm.

Tara led 4-1. But a determined American snatched the lead 9-7.

But Tara with well measured cross court returns, fought back and won the second set at 6-7(7).

However, Tara failed to maintain her rythm thereafter and surrendered meekly 6-1, 6-2 in the next two sets.

Though she pressured her rival forcing long rallies, Tara could not convert them into winners. On the other hand, the 18-year-old American girl capitalised on Tara's faults. She broke Tara in the third, fourth and seventh games on her way to victory.

In another encounter, top seed Szatmari without much ado entered the semi-finals defeating Viratprasert of Thailand, 6-3, 6-2.

In the third match of the day, though Wickmayer offered some resistance in the first set, with better experience the seventh seed Giraud won 7-5, 6-2.

UNI