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26/11/2007
Riner sweeps RP-ITF Women’s Circuit
The 17-year-old native of Lucerne, still nursing a throat infection, came up with winners in the deciding set to wrap up the match after two hours and 15 minutes, The Manila Times reported.
"It was a tough match. I was struggling with my shots and she was playing very well," said the left-handed Riner, who committed 13 double faults.
"But I’m happy that I was able to control my game and try to minimize my errors and win the match," said Riner, who played for the Swiss Fed Cup team last year.
Riner, the tournament’s youngest and first back-to-back winner, earned $3,200 in cash.
"I hope to play better tennis in the coming tournaments and I’m also looking forward to defend my two titles next year," added Riner, who has won three titles this year including the Balikpapan Circuit in Indonesia in May.
Riner, who is expected to improve her current world ranking of No, 612, will proceed to the United Arab Emirates after getting a wild card in the $75,000 Dubai Circuit.
Austrian Roland Burtscher, who has been coaching Riner for only five weeks, expressed elation but was dissatisfied with his ward’s performance.
"It was not the game I wanted to see in her. She didn’t play her best game than last week. But it was good enough to win the title," said Burtscher, who works for the Swiss Tennis Federation.
"I can also understand her condition, she has a sore throat and she’s not in her best form," said Burtscher, a member of the Austrian Davis Cup team in 1994.
The world’s No. 414 Ekshibarova looked headed for the title after posting a 3-2 lead in the third set. But the Tashkent native’s assault was spoiled by 13 unforced errors and three double faults.
"I lost so many important points during the third set because my knees are starting to tremble. I got nervous honestly," said the 18-year-old Ekshibarova, the first leg top seed who was eliminated by a Korean qualifier in the second round.
"Still, I’m happy that I made it this far and I really enjoyed playing here in the Philippines. The people are so warm," added Ekshibaroba, winner of the $10,000 Khonkan event in Thailand in July. She reached the semifinals in Israel, Moscow and Romania early this year.
"It was a tough match. I was struggling with my shots and she was playing very well," said the left-handed Riner, who committed 13 double faults.
"But I’m happy that I was able to control my game and try to minimize my errors and win the match," said Riner, who played for the Swiss Fed Cup team last year.
Riner, the tournament’s youngest and first back-to-back winner, earned $3,200 in cash.
"I hope to play better tennis in the coming tournaments and I’m also looking forward to defend my two titles next year," added Riner, who has won three titles this year including the Balikpapan Circuit in Indonesia in May.
Riner, who is expected to improve her current world ranking of No, 612, will proceed to the United Arab Emirates after getting a wild card in the $75,000 Dubai Circuit.
Austrian Roland Burtscher, who has been coaching Riner for only five weeks, expressed elation but was dissatisfied with his ward’s performance.
"It was not the game I wanted to see in her. She didn’t play her best game than last week. But it was good enough to win the title," said Burtscher, who works for the Swiss Tennis Federation.
"I can also understand her condition, she has a sore throat and she’s not in her best form," said Burtscher, a member of the Austrian Davis Cup team in 1994.
The world’s No. 414 Ekshibarova looked headed for the title after posting a 3-2 lead in the third set. But the Tashkent native’s assault was spoiled by 13 unforced errors and three double faults.
"I lost so many important points during the third set because my knees are starting to tremble. I got nervous honestly," said the 18-year-old Ekshibarova, the first leg top seed who was eliminated by a Korean qualifier in the second round.
"Still, I’m happy that I made it this far and I really enjoyed playing here in the Philippines. The people are so warm," added Ekshibaroba, winner of the $10,000 Khonkan event in Thailand in July. She reached the semifinals in Israel, Moscow and Romania early this year.
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