MANILA, Philippines — Charge it to home court advantage. Or maybe not.
Japan Warriors’ Kurumi Nara opened her Japan Open conquest on a victorious note after drubbing Romanian netter Cristina-Andreea Mitu, 6-1, 6-4.
Nara leaned on her mastery of hard courts in the match as she dealt Mitu her second straight loss dating from the latter’s opening round campaign in the US Open.
But Nara herself didn’t fare well in the New York as she was knocked out by Shelby Rogers in the 3rd round.
Nara, ranked 78 in the WTA rankings, will see action in the International Premier Tennis League’s second season, where she will be playing alongside top tier names in Maria Sharapova and Kei Nishikori.
The IPTL will be mounting it’s second leg here in Manila this coming December.
(Sources from Philstar.com and Philippinemavericks.com)