Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko is into the Hobart International quarterfinals for a second consecutive year.
The No.5 seed scored a comprehensive 6-3 6-2 win over Kazahkstan’s Yulia Putintseva in a 73-minutes second round match today.
“That was my first win over her and last time we played I lost 61 61,” Tsurenko said.
“So for me it’s a good victory.”
Not only did Tsurenko fend off a difficult opponent, she also managed to stave off approaching rain.
“I was aware of the rain coming soon so I wanted to try and finish as soon as possible and win the match before it started,” she said.
Tsurenko will face either top seed Zhang Shuai or Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals. They play their second round match tomorrow.
Illness halted Tsurenko’s Hobart run last year, forcing her to withdraw from the semifinals, but she’s feeling healthy and positive so far in 2018.
“I’m really enjoying playing here,” Tsurenko said.