site.btaIva Ivanova Claims Second ITF Final of Season, Settles for Runner-Up Spot

Iva Ivanova finished as runner-up in the singles event at the USD 15,000 hard-court tournament in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The fifth seed Bulgarian lost in the final to second seed Sandra Samir of the host nation, 4–6, 5–7, in a match that lasted 2 hours and 26 minutes.

The 19-year-old Ivanova made a strong start, taking a 4–2 lead in the first set, but allowed a comeback and lost four consecutive games. In the second set, she fell behind 2–5, fought back to level at 5–5, but then dropped the next two games to concede the match.

Ivanova is still yet to win a singles title on the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour. This was her third final on the circuit and her second of the season, following her appearance in Monastir, Tunisia, in mid-February.