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Kiefer shows appetite for battle

Digging deep: Nicole Kiefer, of the US, hits a return against Petra Miszczak, of Canada, during their girls’semi-final in the Bermuda ITF Junior Open at the WER Joell Stadium yesterday. Kiefer, the top seed, won 3-6, 6-2, 6-1Photograph by Lawrence Trott

Top seed Nicole Kiefer had to come from a set down against Petra Miszczak at the Bermuda ITF Junior Open at the WER Joell Stadium yesterday.

Kiefer, of the United States, won her rain-delayed girls’ semi-final against her Canadian opponent 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Kiefer also won the doubles final last night when she and partner Shirley Liang, of Canada, came from a set down to beat Miszczak and Kyra Foster, of the US, 3-6, 6-2, 10-7.

The final was played a day earlier after a player from two teams withdrew from yesterday’s semi-finals — one leaving Bermuda early to play in another tournament and another because of injury.

Today’s finals will start with the boys singles between Christopher Heck, of Canada, and Jeffrey Fradkin, of the US, at 9am, followed by the girls singles final between Kiefer and Rebecca Lynn, of the US, at 10am. The doubles final will go ahead at 11.30am. It turned out to be a long day for the players, with the girls semi-finals, scheduled for 9am, delayed for five and a half hours because of rain.

Lynn beat Liang 6-4, 6-1 to reach the final, then watching Kiefer come from behind to beat Miszczak in the other match.

“The rain delays were definitely exciting, but Bermuda is lovely and I just love being here, it is just an amazing island,” said Lynn, 14, who lives in Newport Beach, California. “But originally from Denver, Colorado,” she points out.

“It was a long wait but it was worth it. I think my performances have been pretty good, the tournament is well organised.

“We came all the way here to have fun, relax on this beautiful island and just have a good time and keep developing my game.”

Lynn beat second seed Foster in the second round earlier in the week on her way to the final, but missed out on playing in the doubles semi-final yesterday because her partner, Maya Rukosuev, had to leave Bermuda early to play in another tournament.

Kiefer had to dig deep to beat Miszczak in the other semi-final and reach the final.

“I’m very happy, this is my first ITF final so it is exciting,” said the 15-year-old who is originally from Texas but has lived in Florida the past two years. “I love it here, the beach is beautiful.

“We had to wait inside for about six hours before the rain cleared up but now it is a beautiful day.

“My opponent is a really good player, she knows how to hit the ball and move the person around. I just I just kept going.

“Tomorrow is going to be a tough match, I know her and hopefully I’ll triumph over her. I don’t feel any pressure [as No 1 seed], in this tournament seeds don’t matter really because there are some really good unseeded players.”