Bonaventure tips Jimenez Kasintseva to star after W60 Bendigo triumph
Ysaline Bonaventure won her third W60 title on the ITF World Tennis Tour at W60+H Bendigo on Sunday, denying 16-year-old qualifier Victoria Jimenez Kasinsteva the biggest triumph of her fledgling career in the process.
The 27-year-old Belgian overcame her fellow left-hander 6-3 6-1 to collect her third singles title at W60 level (following wins in Toronto in 2017 and Andrezieux-Boutheon in 2020) and her 12th ITF singles title overall.
“It’s such a nice place to start the year,” said Bonaventure in her victory speech after her first singles triumph on Australian soil. “We’re always very happy to come back to Australia, especially after that last two years. We know you Australians have gone through a lot, so it’s really nice to see you guys out here.”
For Jimenez Kasintseva, defeat meant for a second loss in a W60 final, following the Andorran’s run (also as a qualifier) to the title match at W60 San Bartolome de Tirajana (Gran Canaria) in August.
The teen has made significant strides since winning the Australian Open girls’ singles title while aged just 14 in January 2020, going on to win her first ITF women’s title at W25 Aparecida de Goiania in November and ending last season ranked just outside the WTA’s Top 250.
Bonaventure noted her opponent’s hugely impressive progress in her warm victory speech.
“Victoria, I know you might be disappointed and I know you didn’t play your best tennis today, [but] you’re 16 years old, you have a great future ahead,” she said. “It’s already so good what you’ve been doing the last few years so congrats to you and your team.”
Meanwhile, China’s Yuan Yue made a fine start to her season at the other W60 tournament in Australia last week, defeating Argentine Paula Ormaechea 6-3 6-2 to win W60+H Traralgon.
The 23-year-old, who now has three ITF titles to her name following previous wins at W25 Wuhan and W25 Selva Gardena, leaps 37 places to a career-high ranking of No. 162 this week as a result.
There were also titles over the weekend for Russian former world No. 89 Irina Khromacheva and 18-year-old Greek Sapfo Sakellaridi.
Khromacheva won her 18th ITF singles title and first on Tunisian soil at W25 Monastir with a 1-6 6-4 7-5 win over Switzerland’s Arlinda Rushiti, while Sakellaridi won a milestone maiden ITF title after beating American Anastasia Nefedova 7-5 6-3 to win W15 Cairo.
Six women’s tournaments are taking place on the ITF World Tennis Tour this week, including four at W25 level. Follow all the latest here.