MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Mavericks' Jarmila Gajdosova mounted a gutsy second set win, but it was not enough to fend off a brilliant outing from Kateryna Bondarenko in the Japan Open, Thursday.
Gajdosova rebounded with a 6-3 in the second after a dismal 1-6 in the first. But Ukrainian Bondarenko, who is just four slots under the Mavericks' No. 81 WTA ranking, proved to be pesky, topping the Aussie netter, 6-4 in the third.
Earlier in the tournament, Gajdasova was riding on the momentum off her victorious conquest of Alexandra Panova.
Bondarenko, before taking on the Maverick, knocked the 12th-ranked Carla Navarro, who was the tourney's top seed.
Two days before the match, Gajdosova also suffered a loss in the doubles arena, falling prey to the sisterly duo of Chan Yung-jan and Chao Hao-ching. She played alongside former World. No. 4 Kimiko Date-Krumm.
Gajdosova will be playing along side American tennis superstar Serena Williams, German power hitter Jarmila Gajdosova and French righty Richard Gasquet in the International Premier Tennis League under the banner of the Philippine Mavericks.