Canberra\u2019s own Alison Bai produced the biggest win of her career at the Apis Canberra International on Thursday, beating top seed Arina Rodionova in three gruelling sets.<\/p>\n
Bai, the world No.601, hadn\u2019t taken a set off Rodionova in two previous meetings in Canberra before winning 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-4 in 2hr 36min.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still sinking in,\u201d she said. \u201cWith Arina having the year that she\u2019s had and the ranking that she is at the moment, it is probably one of my biggest wins,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s great to have it in my hometown, in my backyard and on centre court. It was awesome.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried not to get too caught up with who was out there today but I definitely could feel the love, it was fabulous.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Canberran was aggressive from the baseline against the world 116th<\/sup> ranked player, attacking the net at every opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew I had to do something different\u2026 I knew I had to be aggressive into her backhand and come into the net, which is what I\u2019m good at, and serve pretty well. In the end taking time away from her and rushing her a little bit definitely put pressure on her.\u201d<\/p>\n The 27-year-old raced to a 5-0 lead in the third set against the Russian-born Australian, before dropping the next four games.<\/p>\n \u201cI was actually having nightmares because it happened in Toowoomba three weeks ago, I was 5-4 up in the third 30-40 returning as well, I was like \u2018ok, don\u2019t do what you did last time, play your percentages\u2019 \u2026 I tried to compose myself and take it one point at a time. I knew I couldn\u2019t wait for her to give me the match, I had to take it to her and be aggressive.\u201d<\/p>\n In the end only one point separated the pair with Bai winning 114 points to 113.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old will now meet Queensland qualifier Kaylah McPhee, a 1-6 6-4 6-4 winner over American Jennifer Elie, in the quarters-finals on Friday. \u00a0The match will be 4th on centre court, not before 3.30pm.<\/p>\n Bai admits on paper the match-up against the world No.1091 looks favourable.<\/p>\n \u201cOn paper I would say I\u2019m supposed to beat her but she\u2019s had a great tournament, she obviously came through qualifying, which isn\u2019t easy, and she\u2019s had two three-setters the last two days. She\u2019s definitely up-and-coming Australian player,\u201d Bai said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have to play my game, serve well and try to rush her and get into the net when I can and keep being aggressive.\u201d<\/p>\n In other matches, second seed Lizette Cabrera, from Queensland, came from behind to beat NSW\u2019s Alexandra Bozovic 6-7(3) 6-4 6-3, while fourth seed Destanee Aiava lost only four games against Victoria\u2019s Belinda Woolcock.<\/p>\n In the men\u2019s draw, third seed Matthew Ebden set up a quarter-final match-up with Blake Ellis after beating New Zealand\u2019s Rubin Statham 6-2 6-1. Earlier Ellis beat American Evan King 4-6 6-1 6-4.<\/p>\n About the Apis Canberra International<\/strong><\/p>\n The Apis Canberra International 2017 is on at the Canberra Tennis Centre until November 5 2017. Entry is free with a gold coin donation requested on finals weekend<\/p>\n The full order of play and qualifying draw can be found\u00a0here<\/a><\/p>\n Live streaming for the women can be found here<\/a>.\u00a0 Live scoring for the women\u2019s event can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n