Leduc pushes Peer to three sets
Two young Quebecers were in action on Wednesday night trying to advance to the second round of the $50,000 Saguenay National Bank Challenger.
Charlotte Robillard-Millette (Blainville, QC) won her opening match 6-3, 6-4 over American Ellie Halbauer.
“I served well today and that was an important factor in the match especially since it’s harder to break serve playing indoors,” said Robillard-Millette. “The second set was more complicated, but I was expecting her to adjust to my game and play better. Tomorrow will be a new challenge. Peer is an experienced player and no matches are easy at this level.”
Local favourite Marie-Alexandre Leduc (Jonquière, QC) faced a tough test going up against former world no. 11 Shahar Peer of Israel. The 18-year-old Canadian pushed her accomplished opponent to three sets before falling 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
“I played a good match, but small things made the difference,” analyzed Leduc after the match. “I played a nearly perfect first set, but didn’t serve as well in the second and third sets and she was able to up her level of play.”
Earlier in the day, Carol Zhao (Richmond Hill, ON) upset seventh seeded Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands after a three hour match 1-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(4) to reach the quarter-finals. Zhao erased a 2-5 deficit in the third set to come away with the victory. The Stanford University athlete will face Swiss Amra Sadikovic on Friday.
On Thursday night, 2014 Saguenay finalist Jovana Jaksic of Serbia will go up against second-seeded American Jessica Pegula. Robillard-Millette will play Peer at 4 :30 p.m. on Centre Court while Sharon Fichman (Toronto, ON) will face American Nadja Gilchrist at around 1 p.m..
