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Bondar claims biggest career title over Parry at Buenos Aires 125

No.3 seed Anna Bondar continued to surge in a career-best season, capturing her first WTA 125 title on the Argentina Open with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of No.7 seed Diane Parry in a single hour and 19 minutes.

The event marked its return to the WTA Tour after a 34-year hiatus. Its final version was gained by former World No.3 Gabriela Sabatini, who defeated Isabel Cueto 6-0, 6-2 within the 1987 remaining.

Bondar, a former Prime 20 junior, prolonged her total 2021 file to 57-26. It consists of her maiden WTA quarterfinal in Gdynia in July, in addition to the ITF W80 title in Le Neubourg in September. The Hungarian rose to a profession excessive of World No.131 final month, and entered Buenos Aires because the World No.135.

“It feels wonderful,” mentioned Bondar afterwards. “It is my first however hopefully not the final. As they are saying, the primary one is at all times particular, so Buenos Aires goes to take a particular place in my coronary heart.

“I improved mentally [this year]. In the course of the summer time I had a form of click on. I performed greater tournaments and I had massive wins, so I bought extra assured. I began to consider I belong to this stage. I feel my recreation has simply been in a single piece all week.”

Highlights: Bondar d. Sherif

Bondar’s title run began in emphatic trend with a 6-0, 6-0 whitewash of Irene Burillo Escorihuela, and she or he solely dropped one set over the course of the week. That was to No.1 seed Mayar Sherif within the semifinals, a match Bondar gained 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 29 minutes for her fourth Prime 100 win of the 12 months.

“That was a key second for me,” mentioned Bondar of the win over Sherif. “I used to be anticipating a very robust match as a result of I understand how robust she is mentally and bodily, and she or he loves clay. I had so many probabilities within the first set that I missed, so it was actually robust to come back again mentally – however I am actually glad that I pulled by way of it, and it gave me confidence.”

2021 Buenos Aires 125 runner-up Diane Parry.


Photograph by Argentina Open

The 24-year-old additionally claimed two wins over former junior World No.1s in Buenos Aires. Within the second spherical, she edged previous Andorran 16-year-old Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 6-4, 7-5, and within the remaining was too strong for the 19-year-old Parry.

Bondar’s booming serve was the muse of her success. She gained 81% of the factors behind her first supply within the remaining, and saved all 4 break factors she confronted. It was backed up by a strong forehand and a sprinkling of judiciously-timed dropshots which caught Parry completely off guard.

“It was a troublesome match, regardless that it was two units,” mentioned Bondar. “She was combating very well. However I may dominate more often than not and I may play my recreation, so it helped me to remain aggressive.”

Highlights: Parry d. Haddad Maia

The Frenchwoman has additionally been having fun with a career-best season, and arrived in Buenos Aires recent off cracking the Prime 200 for the primary time in September and successful her third ITF W25 title of the 12 months in Seville final month. Parry hit one other milestone within the quarterfinals this week when she scored her first Prime 100 win over No.2 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and, like Bondar, was contesting her maiden WTA 125 remaining.

As a uncommon teenager with a one-handed backhand, Parry arguably represents the shot’s finest hope of long-term survival on the WTA Tour. Nonetheless, although her skill to combine up heavy topspin, knifing slice and flat drives on that wing was fashionable sufficient, the World No.174’s forehand was her main weapon. Certainly, Bondar spent a lot of the match efficiently breaking down the Parry backhand, focusing on that facet on nearly each massive level.

2021 Buenos Aires 125 semifinalist Panna Udvardy.


Photograph by Argentina Open

Sherif, Udvardy save match factors en path to final 4

Bondar wasn’t the one instance of younger Hungarian success this week. No.5 seed Panna Udvardy, additionally a former Prime 20 junior, has gained 4 ITF W25 titles in 2021 to rise to a profession excessive of World No.128. The 23-year-old delivered a battling efficiency to succeed in the most important semifinal of her profession in Buenos Aires, extending her season file to 60-24.

Udvardy got here again from a set and 2-5 down in opposition to Laura Pigossi within the second spherical, saving three match factors en path to a 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-5 victory over the Brazilian which clocked in at three hours and 18 minutes – the longest contest of the event. Udvardy backed that up with a seesaw 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 upset of No.4 seed Irina Bara within the quarterfinals.

“We’re all very near the Prime 100,” mentioned Bondar of her fellow countrywomen now making strikes up the rankings – additionally together with Budapest semifinalist Dalma Galfi, the World No.123.

“I feel we’re motivating one another – if one among us can do it, the others can do it additionally. I actually hope we are able to all do it.”

Highlights: Sherif d. Lazaro Garcia

Sherif, who was bidding for her second WTA 125 title after successful Karlsruhe in September, was nearly tripped up on the first hurdle. The trailblazing Egyptian fended off one match level within the first spherical earlier than overcoming Andrea Lazaro Garcia 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2).

Nonetheless, she was then in a position to sweep previous Katharina Gerlach and No.6 seed Ekaterine Gorgodze in straight units earlier than falling to Bondar.

Bara, Gorgodze declare doubles title, stay unbeaten in 2021

Singles quarterfinalists Bara and Gorgodze additionally loved a profitable doubles event, coming from a set and 3-5 all the way down to beat the unseeded Maria Lourdes Carle and Despina Papamichail 5-7, 7-5, [10-4]. Carle and Papamichail served for the title and held two championship factors at 5-4 within the second set, however have been denied by the Romanian-Georgian duo.

Bara and Gorgodze have now competed in three tournaments collectively this 12 months – and gained all of them. They have been the Karlsruhe 125 champions in September, and gained their maiden WTA doubles titles on the Transylvania Open, Cluj-Napoca final week. Their Buenos Aires run prolonged their successful streak as a pair to 11 matches.

2021 Buenos Aires 125 doubles champions Irina Bara and Ekaterine Gorgodze.


Photograph by Argentina Open

 

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