23/03/2012
HASHIM KHAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012
Fourth Title For Kobayashi in Denver
Fourth
Title For Kobayashi in Denver
After
finishing runner-up at the National Capitol Open in Washington last week,
Misaki Kobayashi claimed her fourth WSA title today as she beat
home-hope Kristen Lange in the $5k Hashim Khan Championships
in Denver.
Despite being the favourite to win the event, Kobayashi didn’t have an easy
ride on her way to final, as she dropped a game to Larissa Stephenson
of New Zealand, before being forced to five games by teenage Egyptian
Nouran El Torky in the semi’s.
By contrast, unseeded Lange made an impressive title challenge after first
defeating the No6 seed Nayelly Hernandez of Mexico and No4 seed
Milou van der Heijden 3-0. The 23-year-old from Seattle then faced
fellow American Olivia Blatchford whom she dispatched in five games,
to book her first WSA final appearance.
The promising run was ended however, as Kobayashi’s experience showed in a
straight games win against the American. The Japanese international becomes
the first player to win the new Hashim Khan Championships event.
Kobayashi tweeted to her followers after the final: “Happy with my 4th WSA
title. Toronto next, hope to keep the good form.”
Final
[1] Misaki
Kobayashi (JPN) v Kristen Lange (USA) 12-10, 11-2, 11-6
Semi-finals:
[1] Misaki
Kobayashi (JPN) bt [3] Nouran El Torky (EGY) 4-11, 11-7, 13-11, 7-11, 12-10
Kristen
Lange (USA) bt [2] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 7-11, 11-8
Quarter-finals:
[1] Misaki
Kobayashi (JPN) bt Larissa Stephenson (NZL) 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8
[3] Nouran
El Torky (EGY) bt [5] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-3, 11-5, 11-8
Kristen
Lange (USA) bt [4] Milou van der Heijden (NED) 11-8, 11-8, 13-11
[2] Olivia
Blatchford (USA) bt [7] Celia Allamargot (FRA) 8-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-5
1st
round:
[1] Misaki
Kobayashi (JPN) bt Imelda Salazar Martinez (MEX) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6
Larissa
Stephenson (NZL) bt [8] Ivonne Diaz (MEX) 11-7, 11-8, 11-3
[3] Nouran
El Torky (EGY) bt Diana Elisa Garcia Fierro (MEX) 11-7, 11-8, 14-12
[5] Thaisa
Serafini (BRA) bt Elpiniki Clement (USA) 11-6, 11-1, 11-7
Kristen
Lange (USA) bt [6] Nayelly Hernandez (MEX) 11-5, 12-10, 11-8
[4] Milou
van der Heijden (NED) bt Katja Amir (GER) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9
[7] Celia
Allamargot (FRA) bt Maria Fernanda Rivera (MEX) 11-2, 11-8, 11-8
[2] Olivia
Blatchford (USA) bt [Q] Antonella Falcione (ARG) 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6
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