After defeating No. 1 seed Zhang Shuai (WTA 146) in the quarterfinals of the women's singles at last week's C25 Gimcheon, Zhang Ling (WTA 432) was looking for a place in the final of a US$25,000 event for the first time when she was halted in the semis by China's Lu Jing-Jing (WTA 297) in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.

HKTA Travelling Coach, Alistair Todd, reports from Korea: "In the singles semifinal, Lynn couldn't quite repeat her round of 8 performance from the day before. From the opening ball, Lu played well up in the court, taking everything early, hitting really hard and flat, and controlling the rallies, which gave Lynn no time to set up."

"Lu just served better, returned better, and outplayed Lynn from the baseline. Basically, she took the game away by doing what Lynn was able to do against Panova and Zhang Shuai in the previous rounds. Lynn didn't play bad at all; it was just a very good performance from Lu, so all credit to her."

In the doubles, Zhang Ling and Japanese partner, Tomoyo Takagishi, were also bidding for a finals berth when they were upended in a third set super-tiebreak by Korean pair, Cho Yoon-Jeong and Kim Jin-Hee, 7-5, 5-7, [10-7].

"While Lynn and Tomoyo weren't as sharp as they had been in their quarter final match, they none the less fought hard, narrowly missing out on opportunities to move ahead in the first set. Tomoyo struggled to hold serve, and both girls, while being active at the net, couldn't convert on some volley chances. In the second, they managed to get a break and then consolidated late in the set to push the match to a deciding breaker."

"The Korean girls jumped out to an early lead on the back of some solid work at the net, but Lynn and Tomoyo kept plugging away, narrowing the gap from 9-2 to 9-7 before finally conceding it, 10-7. For a first-time combination, they performed very well together and earned some valuable points."

Cho Yoon-Jeong was, of course, a former Asian Championship winner when she won the women's singles by beating compatriot Jeon Mi-Ra in the final, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, at Victoria Park in 2001. After she cracked the Top-50 five summers ago, a series of injuries and failed comebacks caused her ranking to go into a freefall. Currently, she holds a modest doubles ranking of No. 464 but is not ranked in singles, a far cry from her career-highs of 45 and 98 in singles and doubles.

"All in all though, it was a very good week, as Lynn picks up 12 valuable points from singles, which should hopefully push her back towards the low 400's or maybe even into the 300's. Next up, we'll be heading over to the C25 in Changwon," was the final word from Gimcheon.

In case anyone missed it...

Something incredible took place at the C50 Gifu in Japan last week when over 4000 spectators and 150 media turned up for an ITF Women's Circuit event that usually does not carry such hype or interest. Reason: former WTA No. 4, Kimiko Date, a former Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon semifinalist who boasts career victories over Graf, Sabatini, Sanchez-Vicario, Davenport, and the likes, returned to the pro circuit for the first time since announcing her retirement from the WTA Tour following the 1996 year-end championships.

Now 38, she won three rounds of qualifying to reach the maindraw, then accounted for No. 1 seed Aiko Nakamura (WTA 78) and third seed Melanie South (WTA 155), before finally losing to second seed Tamarine Tanasugarn (WTA 76) in the final, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 (In fact she was leading 6-4, 4-2, at one stage). While that would be considered a good week for most, she doubled up by partnering Japan's current top junior, 16-year-old Kurumi Nara, to win the doubles title with a 6-1, 6-7(8), [10-7], win against No. 3 seeds Melanie South and Nicole Thyssen of Holland.

This week, Date is competing at the C50 Fukuoka where she is again through to the quarterfinals to set up another meeting with No. 1 seed and current Japanese Fed Cupper, Aiko Nakamura.

Results
US$25,000 ITF Women's Circuit
Gimcheon, Korea
28 Apr - 4 May 2008

WOMEN'S SINGLES

First Round
Zhang Ling (HKG) d. (q)Kang Seo-Kyung (KOR) 6-2 6-3

Second Round
Zhang Ling (HKG) d. Alexandra Panova (RUS) 6-3 6-4

Quarterfinals
Zhang Ling (HKG) d. (1)Zhang Shuai (CHN) 6-2 7-5

Semifinals
Lu Jing-Jing (CHN) d. Zhang Ling (HKG) 6-2 6-3

WOMEN'S DOUBLES

First Round
Zhang Ling/Tomoyo Takagishi (HKG/JPN) d. Bae Yoo-Ri/Yoo Soo-Mi (KOR) 6-2 6-4

Quarterfinals
Zhang Ling/Tomoyo Takagishi (HKG/JPN) d. (1)Lu Jing-Jing/Zhang Shuai (CHN) 7-5 6-3

Semifinals
Cho Yoon-Jeong/Kim Jin-Hee (KOR) d. Zhang Ling/Tomoyo Takagishi (HKG/JPN) 7-5 5-7 [10-7]