Mihalikova in Two Girls' Finals at Australian Open, Champion in Doubles

Melbourne, January 30 (TASR) – Young Slovak tennis player Tereza Mihalikova on Saturday failed to defend the junior girls’ singles trophy at the Australian Open, being defeated by 17-year-old Belarusian Vera Lapko in two sets 3-6, 4-6, but compensating for the loss by triumphing in the doubles being teamed up with Russian Anna Kalinskaya.

Mihalikova, 17, seeded as number two in the singles tournament, following the final match especially regretted losing the second set after having already been 4-1 ahead.

“The final was very tough. Tereza wanted eagerly to win and defend the title, but today she was lacking a bit of luck to make a turnabout in the match. Her opponent was playing superbly, on the edge of maximum risk possible, and she managed to win all important balls,” said Mihalikova’s coach Jan Studenic for the Slovak Tennis Association’s website.

Nevertheless, Mihalikova later in the day compensated for the defeat in the singles finals by a commanding victory in the doubles together with Kalinskaya by thrashing Ukrainian duo Dayana Yastremska and Anastasia Zarytska twice 6-1.

Slovak Tennis Association president Tibor Macko appeared to be happy with Mihalikova’s overall performances in Melbourne. “Terka was in two finals, which is a genial result,” Macko told TASR, prophesying a bright future for the young Slovak.