Women’s Kinetic Challenger SF: Stefanoni and Salunkhe To Meet

The final of the Women’s Kinetic 3k Challenger is set, with India’s No.6 seed Akanksha Salunkhe to face off against home favourite, and the tournament’s top seed, Marina Stefanoni, in Saturday’s final.

Salunkhe came into this Challenger 3 level competition off the back of sealing her maiden Tour title in Guatemala last week, and she has dropped just a single game across her three matches in the tournament so far.

Her semi-final saw Salunkhe take on Colombian no.1 Laura Tovar, the No.5 seed for the event, and the Indian required just 25 minutes on court to get the job done, winning in straight games 11-9, 11-6, 11-3, to move through to a second final on Tour in as many weeks.

Salunkhe will do battle with the tournament’s top seed, USA’s Marina Stefanoni, in Saturday’s final, after the World No.66 got the better of compatriot, and surprise package, Caroline Fouts, in straight games.

Fouts came into their last four clash off the back of knocking out both the No.3 and No.8 seeds, but Stefanoni was just too strong for the American, with the 19-year-old winning in three to book her place in the final.

That final between Marina Stefanoni and Akanksha Salunkhe will take place at the Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club in Boynton Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 12.

Semi-Final Results: Women’s Kinetic 3k Challenger
[1] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt Caroline Fouts (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 (35m)
[6] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt [5] Laura Tovar (COL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (25m)

Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, March 12
[1] Marina Stefanoni (USA) v [6] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND)