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Dubai: Aiko Nakamura and teammate Akiko Morigami entered the final round of the qualifiers of the women's competition at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships on Sunday.
Nakamura was in total command leading Galina Voskoboeva 6-1, 3-1 before her Russian opponent retired due to a nagging headache.
Progress
Nakamura, who had knocked off fifth seed Tathiana Garbin in an engrossing three-setter on Saturday, will now meet Andreja Klepac in the final round of qualifying today. Klepac was clinical in her approach as she ousted China's Zi Yan 6-1, 6-1.
"Yesterday's win has done a lot of good for my confidence," Nakamura told Gulf News as she stepped out of court.
"The victory against a higher ranked player [Tathiana Garbin] has given me loads of confidence. I hope I can ride this wave and progress as much as possible here and improve my rankings in the bargain," Nakamura added. Morigami, on the other hand, was stretched to the maximum before walking away a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 winner against fellow Japanese Ayumi Morita.
Monica Niculescu of Romania was another winner to book her place in the final round of qualifying.
Results
Second day of qualifying: Monica Niculescu bt Alisa Kleybanova 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-5; Aiko Nakamura bt Galina Voskoboeva 6-1, 3-1 (retd.); Akiko Marigami bt Ayumi Morita 2-6, 6-3, 7-5; Vera Dushevina bt Julie Ditty 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; Agnieszka Radwanska bt Elena Baltacha 6-1, 6-2; Andreja Klepac bt Zi Yan 6-1, 6-1; Katarina Srebotnik bt Nika Ozegovic 6-4, 6-1; Ai Sugiyama bt Urszula Radwanska 6-3, 7-6.
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