The women’s tennis team of Republika Srpska did not manage to qualify for the finals of the BRICS Games.
Russia was too strong and secured a 2-0 victory after the singles matches. The host of the games had two players ranked highly on the WTA list, providing a valuable experience for the young players of Republika Srpska.
In the first match, Polina Kudermetova defeated Sara Mikacha 2-0. The Russian representative, who is ranked 170th on the WTA list, was very convincing and won 6-1, 6-1.
- “I played against a very experienced player and gave my best. I am satisfied to have played against her. I expect a tough match against India and we hope for a medal,” said Mikacha.
Elena Pridankina was even more convincing, winning 2-0 against Anastasija Ignjatij. The scores were 6-0, 6-0. However, these matches were invaluable for the players to see where they stand against stronger opponents.
- “Russia was the favorite from the beginning. This is their home ground. The player was much more experienced, ranked higher, and had more experience. I am not satisfied with my game, but we will focus all our efforts on the match for the medal. We know our opponent; we have played against them and we want the medal,” said Anastasija.
In the fight for bronze, Republika Srpska will play against India, with whom they have already played in the group stage and lost 1-2.
- “We didn’t have many chances. This was a great learning experience for our players to gain experience and see what they need to work on in the future. India is one of the favorites for winning the medal, but we showed that we can compete against them. Sara is playing better and better, which makes me happy. Anastasija needs to repeat her performance. We lost the first match in doubles, but the girls were not well-coordinated then, and now it is much better,” said coach Aleksandar Džigumović.
Source: Glas Srpske
