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18 May 2024

Matsui Joins Koreans In Yokohama Draw

30 Sep 2005

Local player Chinatsu Matsui will join two Koreans in the first round of the Women's Traders United Yokohama Open after successes in the qualifying finals of the new WISPA World Tour event in Yokohama, Japan.

Matsui defeated compatriot Sachiko Shinta 9-5 9-6 9-2 to set up a first round meeting with Canada's No7 seed Katie Patrick.

But both Koreans Eun Chan Ahn and Eun Ok Park battled for four games against Japanese opposition to earn their places in the main draw of the $15,000 event - much to the disappointment of the Cote-a-Cote Club crowd. Ahn, 19, beat Yuko Asano 9-0 7-9 9-6 9-6, while Park defeated Kozue Onizawa 9-3 5-9 9-7 9-4.

Eun Ok Park is drawn to face second seed Madeline Perry in the first round. The Irish champion is expected to face English favourite Vicky Botwright in Sunday's final.

Qualifying finals:
Chinatsu Matsui (JPN) bt Sachiko Shinta (JPN) 9-5, 9-6, 9-2 (35m)
Amanda Hopps (AUS) bt Miyuki Adachi (JPN) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0 (18m)
Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) bt Yuko Asano (JPN) 9-0, 7-9, 9-6, 9-6 (32m)
Eun Ok Park (KOR) bt Kozue Onizawa (JPN) 9-3, 5-9, 9-7, 9-4 (39m)