Persistence pays off for Boffa

Stefania Boffa after an impressive performance in the Zurich Cup where she pushed the world no 65 Yanina Wickmayer in a close 63 76(5) defeat, teamed up with British player Amanda Elliot for a successful week in Glasgow where they both won their first Challenger title. Stefi was contesting her sixth final and was mindful of the words of her coach David Sammel who said: ‘Keep putting yourself in the position and you will certainly win one’. This win takes Stefi to within 12 points of the top 200 yet again a new career high.

She will team up with Amanda again next week in the 50k in Germany where another good run will put her in to the worlds’ top 200. In singles she continued her fine form losing a tough second round to Elisa Balsamo from Italy 64 64. ‘This was another excellent match for Stefi and all credit must go to Elisa, who played very good tennis especially in the big points. Sometimes you just have to accept the loss when your opponent performs so well’ said Sammel.

Wes Moodie and Jeff Coetzee strengthen their bid for Shanghai by making the semis of Madrid Masters where they had 4 match points to make final. It all depends on Paris this week, which at the time of writing they are in the finals of the Masters Series in the French capital.

Anna Fitzpatrick will get the results of her MRI scan next week which will determine whether she can play again this year. It seems fairly certain that the next tournament she can play will probably be in 2009.