Hill dominates South American ITF Masters tournaments

Wangaratta’s own Michelle Hill has capped off an outstanding year of tennis by winning four major ITF Masters tournaments in South America. Hill won singles titles in Mendoza, Argentina; Porto Alegre, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. During her time in South America, Hill remained undefeated in singles and also claimed a doubles title in Santiago. The closest Hill came to losing a match was in the semi-final of her last tournament in Buenos Aires. In the match she faced Alcira Sisca, ranked number two in Argentina, and despite being down 2-4 in the deciding third set, fought back to win 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 in a match that lasted for three and a half hours. The score and time line were eerily similar to her epic gold medal winning match against the world number one at the World Championships in May. Hill went on to win the final in Buenos Aires 6-4, 6-2 against top ranked Argentinian Marcela Alejandra De Gregorio. The green grass of her Wangaratta home club was a very long way from the clay courts of South America where the courts are slow and the balls bounce high. Hill said that she had to adjust her game and be patient as her opponents constantly hit high, slow balls, deep into the back of the court. "The long rallies test you physically and mentally,” she said. “I had to be patient and stay in the point until a shorter ball came my way and then put it away with enough pace that my opponent couldn't do anything about it. "The tennis clubs I played at had fantastic facilities, including pools, gyms, restaurants and beautiful club houses. “Outside of the tennis bubble, life was very different but the local people we met were friendly and helpful and we would love to return some day to explore more of South America." Hill's next tennis appearance will not be on the clay courts of South America, but instead at the Crown Palladium Melbourne. Hill has been invited by Tennis Australia to the John Newcombe Medal, a gala event which celebrates the achievements of Australian tennis players over the course of this year. Hill and her Australian teammates will be acknowledged for winning gold at the Masters World Championships.

Hill dominates South American ITF Masters tournaments

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