ARINA Rodionova is hoping to follow in the footsteps of elder sister Anastasia on and off the tennis court after making a winning start at the Launceston International yesterday.
The Launceston Regional Tennis Centre tournament's main draw got under way with the Russian given a stern test by dogged Aussie left-hander Storm Sanders before prevailing 6-4, 6-4.
``She's a pretty good junior and being a lefty does not make it easy for me, but I'm happy to get through,'' Rodionova said.
In baking sunlight which clearly surprised many of the competitors, the 22-year-old broke serve twice in the first set before a timely break in the ninth game of the second confirmed the win.
``I really pushed myself in that game because I knew it would be tough to serve at 5-4 down. It was a good opportunity to close the match and I did not want to stay out there for three sets.''
Although Russian-born, Rodionova has lived in Melbourne for five years and is seeking Australian citizenship, which Anastasia has been granted allowing her to win two golds and a silver for her adopted nation at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Australia's top-ranked doubles player and a Wimbledon finalist in the 2003 mixed doubles with Andy Ram, the 29-year-old is also in the Fed Cup squad and currently playing a tournament in Thailand.
Her younger sibling, ranked 290 in the world, also hopes to become an Australian next year and would love to emulate her sister's success.
``She is 7 1/2 years older than me and applied for citizenship earlier so I have time to improve. We practise together all the time but have never played each other for points so it's great to have a sister on tour as well.''
Rodionova jnr won the 2007 Australian Open girls' doubles titles, partnering with Evgeniya Rodina, and made her grand slam debut at last year's Australian Open.
Abbie Myers ensured some early success for the host nation yesterday with a swift 6-2, 6-1 victory over Conny Perrin, of Switzerland.
``That's a good, solid start and my first win in a $25,000 tournament so I'm very happy,'' said the 17-year-old Sydneysider who received a wildcard for the event.
``I last came here for a tournament when I was about 10 and it's improved a lot.''
Another Aussie, Azra Hadzic, followed up on beating world No.1 junior player Irina Khromacheva in qualifying by defeating compatriot Nicole Hoynaski 6-1, 6-2.
However, the most draining story of the day came on court four where China's Saisai Zheng and Pemra Ozgen would be sick of the sight of each other.
The pair fought out the longest singles match of the day, Zheng taking three hours and 10 minutes to win 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, before they had a well-earned lunch break after which they returned to the same court for a first-round doubles encounter, Zheng partnering Shu-Ying Hsieh, of Chinese Taipei, to face the third-seeded Ozgen and South African Chanel Simmonds.
Elsewhere in the doubles, Australians Isabella Holland and Wimbledon junior champion Ashleigh Barty won a thriller against Ksenia Lykina and Conny Perrin 2-6, 6-1 and 10-6 in a match tie-break.
The top seeds in the singles take to the court this morning with drawcard Olivia Rogowska first up on No.1 court against Pole Sandra Zaniewska.
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