Toulouse. Léolia Jeanjean was able to adapt well
Not necessarily comfortable on fast hard, the Stade Toulousain player, from qualifying, still reached the final. She lost in two sets against a Czech.
“I knew that it was played on fairly fast indoor hard. A kind of surface on which I am not very comfortable. So, I approached this tournament with a little apprehension.” In this context, last week at Croissy-Beaubourg (ITF $60,000), Léolia Jeanjean (26 years old, 321st in the world, Stade Toulousain) hopes at least to get out of the qualifying table (two rounds). On arrival, his stopover in Seine-et-Marne continued until the final. But the last step was too high against the Czech Linda Noskova (222nd; 6-3, 6-4).
“On this final, there is not much to say. My opponent was very solid. She played better than me. It’s the story of a break in the two sets. I had only one opportunity to take his serve, in the third game of the match. Of course, I was very tired because it was my eighth game of the week. But I didn’t miss this final at all.” summarizes Léolia, who had already reached this stage of the competition at the end of February in Porto (ITF $25,000).
Matches with twists and turns
In this final table of Croissy-Beaubourg, the Stadiste was still hot on her first two rounds and in a half with victories in three sets. “I led every time. In the first round (6-3, 6-7, 7-5), I won the first set and I lead 4-2 with the ball 5-2. Behind, I am in front at Then, in the final round, I still lead 5-2, I get back up and I save three break points at 5 everywhere. Scenario more or less identical to the next round (6-4, 4-6, 6-4 ). But the hardest part was the half (2-6, 6-1, 7-5). I lead 5-1 in the final set. I have match points at 5-3. We can really say that I was scared of,” she explains.
As for the playing conditions, the Toulouse player was able to count on her quality of service. “On this type of surface, if you serve well and you’re a little confident, you can get a lot of free points. I even think I was at the top of the aces ranking. I made some around fifty, which is huge anyway”, specifies the new 278th in the world (her best ranking for the moment), who currently has an ITF title in singles (obtained last year).
His next three tournaments in France
Thanks to this final in Seine-et-Marne, Léolia was able to set sail this week for Portugal for the Oeiras tournament (ITF $80,000). Placed directly in the final table, she lost in three sets, yesterday, in the second round against a qualified, after a fight of nearly three hours.
In his agenda, the rest should take place in France with stopovers in Calvi (April 11-17, $25,000 + accommodation), Saint-Malo (May 2-8, WTA 125) and Saint-Gaudens (9- May 15, $60,000). And always in sight the clay courts of Roland-Garros.