SIMPLY TOO GOOD: Japan’s Haruna Arakawa returns a shot to Pichayatida Jandaeng of Thailand during the semi-finals of the Asia-Oceania Final Qualifying World Junior Team Girls at Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Centre yesterday. — Photo by Teo Chi Wei
KUCHING: Host Malaysia finally secured their first win in the Asia-Oceania Final Qualifying World Junior Team Girls tennis championship after edging Singapore 2-1 in the play-off for the ninth to 16th placing held at the SLTA Tennis Centre yesterday.
Goh Yee Loon won the first point for Singapore when she beat Suhana Sofia Mohd Adam Das 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 in the first singles but Malaysia bounced back with Loo Shi Pei beating Charmaine Seah Shi Yi 6-2, 6-3 in the second singles to level the score.
Aida Hereena Hairy Anuar and Suhana then rallied to beat the Singaporean pair of Goh Yee Loon and Charmaine Seah 6-1, 6-4 in the deciding doubles.
The Malaysians will face Kazakhstan today for 13th and 14th placing.
Top seeds and tournament favourites Australia stormed into the final after brushing third seeds India 3-0 in the semi-finals yesterday.
The points were delivered by Seone Mendez who beat Pranjala Yadlapalli 7-5, 6-4, Aiava Destanee beat Mihika Yadav 6-3, 6-1 and Jaimee Fourlis-Seone Mendez who beat Sruta Kirti Gunuganti-Pranjala Yadlapalli 6-3, 6-3.
The Australians will play Japan in today’s final after the second seeds overcame the stiff opposition from fifth seeds Thailand to emerge 3-0 winners in the other semi-final.
Haruna Arakawa put Japan one up when she beat Pichayatida Jandaeng 6-3, 6-3 in the first singles. Saya Ito followed up by beating Yinglak Jittakoat 7-6(5), 6-2 in the second singles while Kimika Sakata and Haruna Arakawa wrapped up the victory for Japan with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over Yinglak Jittakoat and Pichayatida Jandaeng.
Thailand will now play India for third and fourth placing.
Meanwhile, in the play-off for ninth to 16th placing, Indonesia beat Vietnam 3-0, Uzbekistan beat Hong Kong 2-1 and Kazakhstan beat Sri Lanka 3-0.