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Serbia has struggled to provide WTA champions after Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic. That may simply change within the upcoming years, with the 14-year-old Luna Vujovic making a reputation for herself. Luna claimed the U14 crown at Wimbledon final summer time, adopted by six singles wins in Prostejov on the ITF World Junior Tennis occasion.
After three ITF junior occasions in Cairo and Vrsar in the beginning of 2024, Vujovic made her skilled debut at this week’s W15 Antalya occasion. Luna certified for the principle draw and defeated two rivals en path to the quarter-final, making a reputation for herself and presenting her wealthy expertise.
Luna kicked off the match with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Gozde Turhan within the first qualifying spherical.
The 14-year-old confronted Lisa Gruber within the second spherical and performed effectively once more, transferring into the following spherical with a 6-4, 6-3 victory in an hour and 14 minutes.
Vujovic served at 42%, and each gamers struggled to seek out the tempo behind the preliminary shot. The younger Serb defended her second serve extra effectively and turned 68% of the return factors into 9 breaks from 12 probabilities. Luna misplaced serve six instances however did sufficient to regulate the scoreboard and transfer nearer to the principle draw.
Vujovic grabbed a break within the first recreation of the match and held at love within the subsequent one for 2-0. The 14-year-old broke at love within the third recreation, settling right into a wonderful rhythm. Vujovic hit two double faults within the fourth recreation, shedding serve and bringing her opponent to the scoreboard.
Luna acquired damaged once more within the sixth recreation earlier than securing one other return recreation within the subsequent one, opening a 4-3 benefit. Gruber pulled the break again within the eighth recreation, locking the outcome at 4-4. The 14-year-old stepped in and clinched the ultimate two video games in fashion, holding at 15 in recreation 9 and breaking her rival at 15 a couple of minutes later for 6-4.
The Austrian hit back-to-back double faults within the first recreation of the second set, shedding serve at love. Luna held after deuces in recreation two and grabbed one other break within the subsequent one, rattling off 5 video games and transferring nearer to the end line.
Lisa seized the third break level within the fourth recreation, decreasing the deficit earlier than losing a recreation level in recreation 5, experiencing the fourth straight break and falling 4-1 behind.
14-year-old Luna Vujovic is having fun with a formidable begin of a professional profession.
Vujovic acquired damaged within the sixth recreation, though it didn’t value her a lot following her fifth straight break within the seventh recreation, transferring 5-2 in entrance and serving for the victory.
Luna couldn’t maintain in recreation eight, protecting her rival in competition earlier than transferring excessive along with her sixth consecutive break in recreation 9. Vujovic confronted the highest seed Mavie Osterreicher and received 6-1, 6-1 within the ultimate qualifying spherical, racing excessive in 63 minutes and getting into her first skilled essential draw at 14!
Luna performed her first skilled main-draw match towards the rival she beat a day earlier than, with Mavie getting into the charts as a fortunate loser. The 14-year-old needed to dig deep for a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 triumph, notching her milestone win and transferring into the second spherical after two hours.
The Serb claimed seven factors greater than her opponent, shedding serve 5 instances and securing six breaks from 13 alternatives. Vujovic saved a break level within the first recreation of the match earlier than shedding serve at 1-1.
She pulled it again within the subsequent one and offered a cushty maintain in recreation 5 for 3-2. Osterreicher squandered a recreation level in recreation six and hit a double fault to lose serve and push the younger gun 4-2 in entrance. Luna closed the seventh recreation at love with an ace and created two set factors on the return within the subsequent one.
Mavie denied them, decreasing the deficit to 5-3 earlier than Luna held at 30 in recreation 9 for 6-3. They traded breaks in the beginning of the second set earlier than Vujovic grabbed one other at 2-2. The teenager hit three double faults within the sixth recreation, permitting her rival to clinch a break and stage the rating at 3-3.
The Austrian broke once more within the eighth recreation and held within the subsequent one, rattling off 4 video games and taking the set 6-3. Luna made a recent begin within the decider, taking 17 of the opening 23 factors and securing a double break for a large 4-0 lead.
Osterreicher diminished the deficit to 4-2 earlier than Vujovic fired an ace in recreation seven for a maintain at 15 and 5-2. The younger Serb served for the win at 5-3 and landed one other ace, sealing the deal and celebrating his first skilled win in the principle attracts.
Not stopping there, Luna defeated Diana Demidova 6-1, 2-6, 6-0 in an hour and 29 minutes, reserving a spot in her first skilled quarter-final.
Vujovic delivered extra environment friendly numbers behind the primary and second serve, struggling 4 breaks and responding with seven return video games on her tally, taking 60% of the return factors and shining in units one and three.
Luna misplaced serve within the first recreation of the match and trailed 40-0 within the second. The younger Serb recovered rapidly, pulling the break again and leveling the rating at 1-1. Vujovic took cost within the remaining 5 video games, dominating on serve and return and dropping solely seven factors en path to 6-1.
Demidova sprayed two double faults within the first recreation of the second set, shedding serve and lengthening a horrible streak. Nonetheless, she pulled the break again right away and raised her stage from 2-2, clinching the remaining video games and successful the set 6-2 to pressure a decider.
Vujovic made a recent begin and recovered her A-game, dropping a few factors behind the preliminary shot and protecting the strain on the opposite aspect. Demidova couldn’t endure it, getting damaged 3 times and permitting Vujovic to emerge on the high in fashion following her first skilled bagel.