(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Noma Noha Akugue made it to the maiden WTA final of her career on Friday after beating Diana Shnaider in their semi-final clash. The derby between the two 19-year-olds saw the German clinch a 6-3, 6-3 win after 78 minutes.This was the first match during the week in which Noha Akugue had not played a three-setter.
Earlier, she’d won her first and second-round encounters in three-set battles that’d also needed her to post a comeback from losing the first set. Against Shnaider, Noha Akugue played fiercely and dominated the proceedings from the start until the end.Both players won around 70% of her first-serve points.
The eventual winner finished with 76% to her opponent’s 73%. However, Shnaider didn’t have as good of a success when it came to doing well on second-serve points. While Noha Akugue won 65% of her second-serve points, she also won 58% points on return on her rival’s second serve.
Throughout the match, despite facing half-a-dozen break points, she saved all of them. She also went to convert three break points on Shnaider’s serve.
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In the final, Noha Akugue’s rival…
