Two in a row as Ozaki takes Canberra
After tasting success in Bendigo last week, Japan's Risa Ozaki has gone on to take Canberra title on Sunday and with it, a place in the world's top 100.
Canberra ACT, Australia, 6 November 2016 | David Packman
After success in the Apis Canberra International, Japan’s Risa Ozaki has now earned two consecutive Australian Pro Title Tour titles, propelling herself into the world’s top 100 for the first time in the process.
Hot on the heels of her ITF $50,000 crown in Bendigo, the 22-year-old from Kobe didn’t drop a set all week in Canberra, and proved too strong for Italian qualifier Georgia Brescia in Sunday’s final, taking the match 6-4 6-4.
The top seed raced to 3-1 before Brescia was able to retrieve the momentum, locking up the opening set at 4-4. Ozaki wasn’t fazed and immediately broke to take the first set. The Italian bounced back, making the early running in the second set before giving up four consecutive games, a deficit she recovered from only to be broken again as Ozaki sealed the match.
Ozaki was the nemesis of the local contingent early in the tournament, taking out Abbie Myers and Olivia Rogowska in the early rounds before removing Arina Rodionova from contention at the quarterfinal stage.
She now returns to Japan to look for her seventh title in an ITF $100,000 event in Tokyo next week.
After upsetting Japanese eighth seed Shuko Aoyama in the opening round, Tammi Patterson was the only other Australian to reach the last eight, where she lost in straight sets to Brescia.
Live scores of all Australian Pro Tour events are available through www.tennis.com.au/protour/scores and for a live stream of selected events visit www.tennis.com.au/protour.