(Offered by Tennis World USA)
Noma Noha Akugue, 19, reveals she is drawing inspiration from Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams because the rising German star thinks having “a poker face” on the courtroom is an excellent factor. Akugue, who entered this week ranked at No 207 on the planet, stunningly made her first WTA closing in Hamburg as a wildcard.
In Hamburg, 19-year-old Akugue performed her first WTA important draw match. En route to creating the Hamburg closing, Akugue clinched a number of upset wins – together with the one over 2022 French Open semifinalist Martina Trevisan. Within the Hamburg closing, Akugue suffered a straight-set defeat after Arantxa Rus defeated the German 6-0 7-6 (3).”I like her poker face.
She’s additionally an aggressive participant. She’s much like me, that is why I like her. It is also essential to see a Black lady in tennis — Serena as properly, in fact. It is good for younger gamers,” Akugue advised the WTA web site.
Akugue drawing inspiration from Osaka, Williams
“I attempt to preserve my feelings to myself,” Akugue added.In opposition to former world No 18 Trevisan, Akugue was attempting to not present many feelings however the 19-year-old German was undoubtedly feeling so much inside herself as she knew beating a Grand Slam semifinalist can be an enormous factor.
Akugue discovered herself down by a set to Trevisan within the quarterfinal however recovered to beat the Italian 5-7 6-4 7-5.”I do not know in the event you noticed it, however I began crying within the [Trevisan] match beneath my towel. However I attempted to recollect to maintain my poker face,” Akugue stated.In the meantime, Akugue will break into the top-150 for the primary time in her profession following her runner-up end in Hamburg.
Earlier than Hamburg, Akugue was largely competing within the ITF-level tournaments this 12 months. However after a powerful Hamburg run, Akugue has drawn consideration to herself and she is going to now doubtless get extra possibilities to compete on the principle stage.
