Fiji’s top player makes semi-final

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Alexander Blasco in action at Denarau Tennis court. Picture: BALJEET SINGH

FIJI men’s number one William O’Connell showed his class at the Denarau Golf Racquet Club courts in Nadi yesterday to qualify for the semi-finals of the Fiji Tattsloto Fiji Open Championship.

O’Connell downed Alexandre Blasco in straight sets during the men’s singles quarter-final.

He won 6-3, 6-1.

Top seed and defending champion Thomas Perrin proved too powerful for Ichame Tidjine winning his quarter-final fixture 6-1, 6-0.

In the other quarter-finals, second seed Heve Kellly beat Maceo Rouas 6-1, 6-1 while Chung Ridge defeated Tito Bira 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.

National women’s rep for the upcoming Pacific Games in Samoa, Ruby Coffin lost her quarter-final fixture.

Coffin went down fighting 6-3, 6-3 at the hands of third seed Mikayla Zahirovic.

The women’s number one Eleanor Schuster defeated Aya Ishi 6-1, 6-3 in the quarter-final and then beat Zahirovic 6-3, 6-3 in the semi-final to earn a spot in the final.

Tennis Fiji secretary Sachin Reddy said the semi-finals of the men’s singles will be played this morning. Reddy said the finals are scheduled for tomorrow.

He said William was in fine form.

“Ruby had a tough match,” Reddy said.

“It was a great experience for her. The players are building up to the Pacific Games and they need to get as much game time as they can. “The matches are getting tighter in the elimination stages.”

Entry is free for the tournament

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