Nirupama in qualifying final

Shailesh Soni

Nirupama Vaidyanathan moved into the final of the women's singles qualifiers at Wimbledon 2001, upsetting 16th seed Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2 in the second round.

Nirupama started the first set, losing serve in the first game. But the unseeded Indian fought back to break Klara in the sixth game to level scores at 3-3. Games went with serve till the 9th game till Nirupama broke in the next.

In the tenth game, Nirupama had three set points, but Klara saved them all to make it deuce. Nirupama again had three more break points but Klara did well to save them too. However, the Indian did not lose the advantage on the next break point she got and finished off the set at 6-4.

In the second set, Nirupama again had problems in the first game, when Klara had one break point against her. But she saved her game and broke Klara in the next game to lead 2-0.

The Indian again had one break chance in the fourth game, but was unable to convert it.

In the fifth game, however, Klara broke the Indian, only to see her opponent return the break in the next game on the 4th break point. Leading 4-2, Nirupama then won the next game on her serve and broke Klara in the eighth game to take the match.

She will face the winner of the match between Anca Barna of Germany and Amanda Janes of Great Britain in the final.

Earlier reports:
Paes in qualifying final
Paes, Nirupama in round 2
Paes faces Bulgarian in Wimbledon qualifier