Alize Lim and Heather Watson Reach Tevlin Singles Finals

Championship match at the $50,000 Tevlin Challenger is set as France’s Alize Lim and Heather Watson of Great Britain advanced through the semifinals on Saturday. Lim defeated Canadian top-seed Rebecca Marino (Vancouver) 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-0 and No. 7 seed Watson eliminated American Sloane Stephens 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.
 
Lim started slow as Marino, Canada’s No. 1 ranked player, was strong and dominant in taking a quick 3-0 lead. However, Lim was able to adjust her game to counter Marino’s powerful groundstrokes and fought back to even the score and force a first set tiebreak. Marino came out swinging in the second set and Lim struggled with her serve to spot Marino a 4-0 lead. Again, Lim battled hard but this time not enough and Marino won the set 6-4. In the third set, it was Lim’s turn to take control. The 20-year old was unrelenting and won easily 6-0 to move into the final and end Marino’s match-win streak at 18.
 
“I tried not to think and just play and work and she made a few mistakes in the third set,” said Lim. “I was trying to focus on her serve which is really great. I knew if I could return the first ball I had a chance to win every point.”
 
Lim has had a breakthrough year on the professional circuit moving more than 400 spots up the rankings to her current career-high of No. 366. She has captured two titles this season at $10,000 Challenger events but this is her first final appearance at the $50,000 Challenger level. Meanwhile, Marino falls short of her bid to win a fourth consecutive $50,000 Challenger event but will still reach a career-high ranking with her semifinal performance in Toronto. The 19-year-old will look to end her season on a winning note next week at the $75,000 Phoenix Challenger in Arizona.
 
Watson also took some time to get into a rhythm at the start of her semifinal match, dropping the first set to Stephens in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Like Lim, the Brit was able to rebound by mixing up the points a bit more and controlling the pace of ball. She stormed back take the second set 6-0 and held strong to get a late break in the third set and book her spot in the final.
 
“I knew it was going to be a tough match today coming into it,” said Watson. “She started really well and I knew I had to start coming to the net more if I was going to win. It really paid off.”
 
The tournament’s seventh-seed and ranked No. 209 on the WTA Tour, Watson is one of Great Britain’s young hopefuls for the future. At just 18 years old, she has compiled a 31-21 win-loss record this season including three victories over players ranked in the Top 100. She captured one singles title at the $25,000 Wrexham Challenger in her home country.
 
Lim and Watson have never played each other before.
 
Championship match at the Tevlin Challenger will be Web cast live via LoveMeansNothing.ca at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Tevlin Challenger is taking place at the Tennis Canada Centre of Excellence, the indoor facility located beside the world-class Rexall Centre in Toronto. Admission is free.