Monique Adamczak
JUST a couple of days after playing a three-hour epic in the final of the Burnie International, Olivia Rogowska and Monique Adamczak are ready for part two of their Tasmanian challenge when the Launceston Tennis International begins today.
No. 1 seed Rogowska edged an epic final 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 on the North-West Coast and Adamczak admitted she was out for revenge when the two Australians of Polish ancestry are reunited at the Launceston Regional Tennis Centre.
``It was very close and a really good game,'' Adamczak said yesterday.
``I've played her a number of times and obviously I'll be hoping to get one back here if it goes that way.
``I've been playing really well so as long as I can stay healthy I hope to do really well.''
The 30-year-old Sydneysider with a world ranking of 182 said she was just happy to be playing at all after tearing her ACL in 2010.
``I've been working my way back since then and am finally enjoying playing again because I never thought I'd be playing again after that.''
Twenty-one-year-old Rogowska is the player to beat when the week-long $25,000 ITF tournament begins today.
The Melburnian had a breakthrough year in 2012, playing the main draw of two Grand Slams and winning through to the quarter-finals of a WTA tournament in Kuala Lumpur before reaching a career-high ranking of 108 in October.
Rogowska also recorded three ITF singles titles on the pro circuit, as did fellow Victorian Sacha Jones, who also had a solid season, reaching a career high of 150 before succumbing to injury in September.
West Australian Bojana Bobusic and Victorian Arina Rodionova also feature in the main draw, along with Victorian Viktorija Rajicic and Queenslanders Lizette Cabrera and Priscilla Hon after they were awarded wildcards.
Pro-circuit regulars, including South Africa's Chanel Simmonds, will be the biggest international threat, with the rest of the main draw set to feature sisters Yurika and Erika Sema and a further six Japanese compatriots.
Stephanie Vogt, of Liechtenstein, and Croatian Ana Savic add to the international flavour.
Qualifying was completed yesterday with 18-year-old West Australian left-hander Storm Sanders among those booking their spot in the main draw.
``I think I played some smart, solid tennis today,'' Sanders said after her 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Japan's Mari Tanaka.
``Last year I was a wildcard and lost to Rodionova in the first round but I feel I've improved a lot since then.''