TENNIS | Maria Perla shines at international event on the Ivory Coast

Abidjan Junior International Championships.

Dundalk Tennis Club’s Tennis Marie Perla Biansumba added to her ITF ranking with a fine performance at the Abidjan Junior International Championships at the Ivory Coast recently.

Week one began with the 17-year-old defeating Nadege Koua from Canada in the last 16 of the individual tournament but she lost to Finnish number two seed, Alexandra Antilles, 2/6, 6/4, 6/4 after leading 6/2, 4/2.

Marie was disappointed not to get over the line as it would have catapulted her into the last eight with the opportunity of progressing go to finals.

In the doubles competition, Marie teamed up with Indian player Sanya Singh and they defeated week one singles champion Jade Haller from Switzerland and her partner Ahou Kauodio from the Ivory Coast for a place in the quarter-finals of doubles.

Marie and Sanya’s hopes were shattered, however, when they were defeated by the number seeds from Nigeria, Adetayo Adetunji and Angel Macleod, 6/3, 1/6, 10/4.

In week two, Marie Perla defeated Gulia Castiglioni from Switzerland 6/3, 6/2 despite having to compete in extreme conditions where the temperature rose to above 40 degrees and humidity levels above 90%.

In her second round encounter, Biansumba defeated the number seven seed, Marie Ange Adomon from the Ivory Coast to book her place in the top eight and quarter finals of the international championships.

Hopes were high after Marie’s performance against the African player but a below par showing against India’s Bhakti Parwani put an end to her hopes of a 6/2 scoreline.

She bounced back by booking herself a place in the last eight of the doubles event — where this time she paired up with Gulia Castiglioni.

As a result of her exploits in the Ivory Coast, Marie managed to pick up a total of 20 world ranking ITF junior points.

She will receive her new junior international world ranking next week and will train at Dundalk’s performance academy based on the Ramparts Road along with the 30 other competitive juniors that are competing locally, nationally and internationally.

“This was not just a successful trip for Marie in terms of her world ranking,” said Dundalk Tennis Club’s head coach, John McGahon.

“She also really got a taste of how a pro trains, how it feels to compete in one of the most vicious environments on earth, and she has seen areas in her game that need work on and improvement over the coming weeks and months ahead.”

The club’s junior tennis programme enters its final term of training this week and will run until the end of June 2017.