Doubles partners in singles final

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KUCHING: Sabina Sharipova of Uzbekistan is one step away from winning another title after she advanced to the singles final of the US$10,000 Kuching ITF Women’s Circuit at SLTA centre yesterday.

FRIEND AND FOE: Sandy Gumulya (left) of Indonesia and Uzbekistan’s Sabina Sharipova celebrate after beating Yoko Naito of Japan and Jessica Sabeshinskaja of Germany 6-3, 6-3 in the women’s doubles quarter-finals on Wednesday. They will face each other for the singles title in today’s final. • Photo by Davidson Kho

The top ranked Uzbek lived up to her top seed billing by demolishing fourth seed Elodie Rogge-Dietrich of France in the semi-final match in straight sets of 6-1, 6-1.

It was plain sailing for Sharipova en route to the final; getting a bye in the first round and then sweeping past Sowjanya Bavisetti of India 6-0, 6-3 in the second round before brushing aside Ivana King of USA 6-1, 6-4 in the quarter-finals.

Standing in her way in the final to be played today is her doubles partner Sandy Gumulya from Indonesia after the second seeded player easily disposed of third seed Piia Suomalainen of Finland 6-3, 6-0 in the other semi-final.

The duo had won the doubles title after upstaging top seeds Rushmi Chakravarthi of India and Elodie Rogge-Dietrich of France 6-3, 6-2 in the final on Friday.

They will have to put friendship aside today as they face off in the final for the top honour and a prize money of US$1,568 (RM4,860).

Sharipova also won the girls doubles title with Anna Tyulpa of Russia at the 16th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (II) ITF World Junior Tennis Championship (Grade 3).