Elkalaawy Eliminates Tovar to Reach Val de Marne Main Draw

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England’s Nada Elkalaawy eased past Colombia’s Laura Tovar in the final qualifying round of the 2nd Tournoi International Val de Marne, PSA W5 tournament with a 3-0 victory.

The 20-year-old took the initiative early on and remained consistent throughout to record an 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 victory to secure her place in the next round.

She will take on Anna Klimundova in the opening round of the main draw as she looks to make it to the quarter-final of a PSA World Tour event for the first time this year.

Jasmin Ballmann is also through to the main draw action after she defeated Nadia Pfister in an all-Swiss final qualifying round matchup. It was Pfister who captured the first game but a resilient fight back from Ballmann enabled the World No.203 to claim the victory, setting up a first round clash with Alison Thomson.

“I am very happy to get into the main draw,” said Ballmann.

“My first match [against Lowri Roberts] was very close but I managed to stay focused and win it in five games. Unfortunately, my second match was against my [national] teammate Nadia from Switzerland. We were both used to the court as we both had our previous match on the glass court.

“I was able to get in front of her and was getting my length right throughout. I’m looking forward to playing my next match in the main draw.”

Canada’s Danielle Letourneau kept up her 100 per cent qualifying record with an assured win against Elise Romba. She blitzed to victory in the first game, dropping just a solitary point, before surging on to wrap up the result. Top seed and former World No.2 Natalie Grinham awaits Letourneau in the main draw’s opening round.

Elsewhere, Marina de Juan Gallach downed Jennifer Haley in four and she is set to meet Birgit Coufal when the main draw gets under way.

Results – Final Qualifying Round: 2nd Tournoi International Val de Marne 2015
[1] Marina de Juan Gallach (ESP) bt Jennifer Haley (WAL) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 16-14, 11-9
[5] Nada Elkalaawy (ENG) bt [3] Laura Tovar (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-5
[7] Jasmin Ballmann (SUI) bt [4] Nadia Pfister (SUI) 3-1: 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5
[2] Danielle Letourneau (CAN) bt [6] Elise Romba (FRA) 3-0: 11-1, 11-4, 11-4

Main Draw – First Round
[1] Natalie Grinham (NED) v [Q] Danielle Letourneau (CAN)
Nada Abbas (EGY) v [6] Milnay Louw (RSA)
[8] Anna Klimundova (CZE) v [Q] Nada Elkalaawy (ENG)
[WC] Laura Gamblin (FRA) v [4] Chloe Mesic (FRA)
[3] Birgit Coufal (AUT) v [Q] Marina de Juan Gallach (ESP)
[Q] Jasmin Ballmann (SUI) v [7] Alison Thomson (ENG)
[5] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) v Enora Villard (FRA)
Anastasiia Fesenko (UKR) v [2] Cyrielle Peltier (FRA)