Coppini Tennis Academy's Isabella Kruger is off to a winning start at the W35 Santa Margherita di Pula event. The 19-year-old passed a qualifying stage and entered the main draw, facing fellow teenager Vittoria Paganetti in the first round.
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Kruger scored a one-sided 6-3, 6-1 victory in an hour and 24 minutes, notching her 12th main-draw win at professional events in 2024, excluding the Billie Jean King Cup. The South African outplayed her rival behind the first serve and pushed the Italian to the limits behind the second.
Vittoria claimed five of 23 points after missing the first serve, dropping 56% of the points behind the initial shot and suffering six breaks from ten chances offered to her opponent. Isabella played against four break points, getting broken two times and making a winning start.
Kruger produced a fine hold in the first game of the encounter and erased a 40-0 deficit in the next one after Paganetti's two double faults. The home player stayed composed and brought the game home, leveling the score at 1-1.
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Isabella Kruger made a winning start at the W35 Santa Margherita di Pula event.
Coppini Tennis Academy's player closed the third game after a deuce before the Italian delivered a hold at love for 2-2.
The 19-year-old lost the opening two points of the fifth game before rattling off five, securing another hold and moving 3-2 in front. Isabella stepped in on the return in the sixth game and grabbed a break, opening a 4-2 advantage.
An 18-year-old stayed composed and broke back in the seventh game, reducing the deficit and returning to the positive side. The South African made another push on the return at 4-3, seizing the second break point and forging another advantage.
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Kruger served for the opener at 5-3 and offered her rival a break point after a double fault, saving it and wrapping up the first part of the duel in 42 minutes.
Vittoria hit a double fault in the first game of the second set, suffering a break and falling further behind.
The Italian hit another double fault in the third game, losing serve at 15 and propelling the South African 3-0 in front. Isabella held after a deuce in the fourth game and erased a 40-0 deficit in the next one. Coppini Tennis Academy's player notched another break in the fifth game, forging a 5-0 lead and serving for the win.
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Kruger suffered a break in game six before delivering her sixth consecutive return game at 5-1, moving over the top in style and booking a place in the second round.
