Dominant Return From Injury For Korean Starlet
by Matt Wagg
July 9, 2012 - Song Sun-Mi put nine months of injury hell behind her as she stormed through the Victoria Open in Australia to claim the $10K WSA World Tour title.
The 22-year-old had reached a world ranking high of 41 in September 2010, but appeared in Melbourne, Australia for the event having not entered a WSA competition in twelve months.
An unsurprising first round of results gave way to a number of high profile upsets in the second. Unseeded Megan Craig of New Zealand knocked out tournament favourite Delia Arnold of Malaysia, whilst Deon Saffrey beat No8 seed Thaisa Serafini and Tong Tsz-Wing beat No6 Tamika Saxby. Sun-Mi also caused her first upset of the event by beating No7 seed Sarah Cardwell.
More surprises continued in the quarter finals as Welshwoman Deon Saffrey got the better of No3 seed Liu Tsz-Ling of Hong Kong, and Amanda Landers-Murphy beat her higher seeded opponent Melody Francis to end local hopes of an Australian title win.
Having bested giant-killer Megan Craig in the quarters, Song Sun-Mi then defeated Deon Saffrey in the semi’s to confirm her place in final. There she was met by New Zealand international Amanda Landers-Murphy who beat her national teammate Kylie Lindsay to progress to her second successive WSA World Tour final.
The 22-year-old Korean is sure to improve on her current world ranking of 132 as she returns to fitness following a almost year-long layoff, and saw off the challenge of last month’s South Australian Open winner in 30 minutes to win her second and biggest WSA World Tour title.
Final:
Song Sun-Mi (KOR) bt [5] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 (30m)
Semi finals:
Song Sun-Mi (KOR) bt Deon Saffery (WAL) 6-11, 11-2, 11-4, 12-10
[5] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) bt [4] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 11-1
Quarter finals:
Song Sun-Mi (KOR) bt Megan Craig (NZL) 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 (20m)
Deon Saffery (WAL) bt [3] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 5-11, 9-11, 18-16, 11-4, 11-7 (58m)
[4] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) bt Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) 12-10, 11-4, 11-2 (32m)
[5] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) vs [2] Melody Francis (AUS) 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (35m)
Round two:
Megan Craig (NZL) bt [1] Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-9, 10-12, 12-10, 14-12 (72m)
Song Sun-Mi (KOR) bt [7] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-0 (28m)
[3] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 12-10, 11-8, 11-1 (28m)
Deon Saffery (WAL) bt [8] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (32m)
Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) bt [6] Tamika Saxby (AUS) 11-6, 11-9, 13-11 (38m)
[4] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) bt [Q] Yu Ra Choi (KOR) 11-7, 11-7, 12-10 (28m)
[5] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) bt Alix Younger (CAN) 11-7, 11-9, 11-1 (22m)
[2] Melody Francis (AUS) bt Carmen Lee (HKG) 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 4-11, 11-4 (40m)
Round one:
[1] Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Larissa Huffer (AUS) 12-10, 11-3, 11-6
Megan Craig (NZL) bt Grace Mcervale (AUS) 11-2, 11-3, 11-1
[7] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [Q] Taylor Flavell 11-4, 11-6, 11-3
Song Sun-Mi (KOR) bt Vanessa Pickerd (AUS) 11-5, 11-8, 11-5
[3] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) bt Stacey Cope (AUS) 11-2, 11-2, 11-3
Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Genevieve Lessard (CAN) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
[8] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) bt Catherine Finlayson (ENG) 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2
Deon Saffery (WAL) bt Eloise O'Connor (AUS) 11-3, 11-6, 11-2
Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) bt Jennifer Brown (AUS) 11-9, 11-4, 11-3
[6] Tamika Saxby (AUS) bt [Q] Antonella Falcione (ARG) 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7
[Q] Yu Ra Choi (KOR) bt Karman Siu (HKG) 4-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3
[4] Kylie Lindsay (AUS) bt Nicole Stoneham (AUS) 11-4, 11-2, 11-7
Alix Younger (CAN) bt Christine Nunn (AUS) 11-6, 11-2, 11-7
[5] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) bt Selena Shaikh (AUS) 11-4, 11-4, 11-1
Carmen Lee (HKG) bt Carin Clonda (EST) 11-3, 11-5, 11-3
[2] Melody Francis (AUS) bt Natalie Newton (AUS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-4
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