Fourlis defeats no. 2 seed Rodionova at the ACT Clay Court International 1

Recently in Canberra Arina Rodionova defeated Jaimee Fourlis in the ITF 25k hard court event at the semi-final stage.

Two tournaments later Fourlis would claim the ITF 25k title in Bendigo.

Now the Australian Pro Tour action has returned to Canberra. This time on clay and at the ITF 60k level.

Rodionova and Fourlis faced each other in the opening round.

It was Rodionova that took the opening set 6-3. Fourlis was then up a break in the second only to lose that advantage to see the set go to a tie breaker.

A few weeks ago it was Rodionova’s consistent play in the breaker that earned her the win.

This time it was Fourlis’ more aggressive play that saw her take the second set 7-6(2).

Fourlis then ran away in the 3rd set to claim the match 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-1.

The Victorian won the ITF 25k title in Canberra back in 2018.

Fourlis will face Mexico’s world no. 180 Fernanda Contreras Gomez in the second round.

Australian wild card recipient Destanee Aiava defeated Japan’s Chihiro Muramatsu 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.

Aiava is a multiple finalist in Canberra on clay, losing the ITF 25k title to Risa Ozaki in 2019 and in 2018 she lost the ITF 60k final to Dalila Jakupovic. Aiava also lost the 2018 ITF 60k final to Olivia Rogowska.

In 2016 Aiava made the final of the ITF 25k event after qualifying.