ITF World Tennis Women: early defeat thwarts Malaysia’s dream

IPOH – Malaysia's campaign in the Sanctband ITF World Tennis Tour Women W15 ended early when the country's sole women's doubles pair Shihomi Leong Li Xuan-Saw Jo-Leen failed to advance past the early round.

The pair lost their match against fourth seeds in the tournament, Jaeda Danial (USA)-Vivian Yang from New Zealand 2-6, 1-6 in 58 minutes at the Perak Tennis Arena, here today.

With the loss, Jo-Leen also failed to make amends for her defeat in the singles event yesterday, to Japan's Hosonuma Chisa, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6. 

Though Shihomi and Jo-Leen matched their more illustrious opponents early in the match, the experienced duo from the USA and New Zealand proved too strong.

Shihomi, Jo-Leen and Phang Ziyi Nao were given wild card entries but all three lost in their opening matches.

The ITF Tour features players from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, India and other countries that are ranked below 700 in the world while the tour offers RM65,000 as total prize money and Sanctuary Health Sdn Bhd (Sanctband Active) is the main sponsor. – Bernama, February 15, 2023