Broady battles back on day of shocks in Barnstaple
1st November 2012
Britain’s Naomi Broady battled back from a set down to record one of the biggest wins of her career at the AEGON GB Pro-Series Barnstaple today, on a day where the top three seeds all exited the singles competition.
Broady, the world No.279 from Stockport, recovered from the loss of the opening set to defeat second seeded world No.90 Nina Bratchikova (RUS) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 after one hour and 38 minutes of play at the Tarka Tennis Centre, Barnstaple.
The British No.6 said afterwards: “I’ve not had the best of years so it’s nice to finally have something go my way for once. It’s a really good win for me. I’ve felt for a while this year that my game’s improved but I’ve just not been getting the results, but I knew I could compete at the top level when it all comes together and today it did so I’m really happy.
“[Barnstaple,] it’s really nice, there’s always a big turnout for this tournament so it’s nice to see people around to support the British girls.”
In the last eight Broady will face the highest ranked player left in the draw, Annika Beck of Germany, who won the AEGON GB Pro-Series Shrewsbury in September, and claimed a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 victory today against Katerina Vankova (CZE).
Broady continued: “She’s won the last few tournaments so she’s obviously on a winning streak so I’ll just go out there with nothing to lose and do my best.”
On a day of shocks the top seed and world No.59 Romina Oprandi (SUI) fell 7-6(3), 6-1 at the hands of Madison Brengle (USA) and French qualifier Constance Sibille upset the defending champion Anne Keothavong (GBR) after an epic three set match.
Sibille, the world No.451, came from a set down to narrowly defeat Keothavong, the highest ranked British player in the draw, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) after two hours and 24 minutes in front of a large crowd on Court 2.
The French player was delighted with her win over the No.3 seed: “I feel so proud of me, so glad, so happy. It was an amazing match, so difficult, so very tough, and I’m so happy to win 7-6 in the last set, it was very, very difficult.
“This is the best tennis I have ever played. Today my forehand was good, I was running very good and I was believing all the time that I could do it.
After a comfortable opening set by Keothavong, Sibille evened up the match as she broke the Briton in her opening service game before the rest of the set went with serve, to leave the score at 3-6, 6-3.
In the decider neither player looked like conceding a break as the set reached 4-4. Keothavong had opportunities to break, but failed to convert and the match moved into a final set tie-break to decide the quarter-finalist.
It was the Brit who made the brighter start, racing into a 3-1 lead, but Sibille hit back to take a 4-3 lead, before the tie-break moved to 5-5. The Frenchwoman held her serve to bring up matchpoint and when a Keothavong forehand found the net she had clinched the victory.
Sibille, who turns 22 next week, continued with her thoughts on Barnstaple and the tournament: “I like the town and I play good so I like it more. I think everybody has a chance now. I will see how I feel tomorrow because this match was very tough and it’s my fourth match of the week so I will see how I feel and will do my best again
The other upset on Thursday saw seventh seed Maria Joao Koehler (POR) go down in three sets to Eva Birnerova (CZE), beaten 6-3, 3-6, 6-0. Sixth seed and former world No.14 Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) won 7-6(6), 1-6, 6-4 against Ekaterina Bychkova (RUS).
British player Tara Moore exited the singles event, beaten 6-2, 7-5 by Marta Sirotkina (RUS) who will now face eighth seed Vesna Dolonc who also won in straight sets, beating Lesley Kerkhove (NED) 6-4, 6-2.
Friday will see the four singles quarter-finals and the two remaining doubles quarter-finals contested.