2021 Predator Antalya Open Ladies Division
ZALEWSKA Defends Title By LUKE RICHES - EPBF
Oliwia Zalewska, the 26 year-old Polish player, successfully defended her Turkish Open title, defeating Ana Gradisnik (Slovenia) 7-5 in the championship match. It was Zalewska’s fourth Euro Tour title, adding to wins in Italy (2015), Austria and Turkey in 2019.
H
osted by the Venezia Palace Hotel in Antalya, Turkey, Zalewska got off to the worst possible start to the tournament as she lost her opening match against Elise Qiu (France) which relegated her to the loser’s side of the bracket.
She fought hard though, surviving a hill-hill battle with Veronika Ivanovskaia (Germany) before defeating home hope, Eyllul Kibaroglu in another hill-hill tussle to reach the last four. Another 7-6 win, this time over Kamila Khodjaeva saw her through to the final.
Gradisnik, going for her maiden Euro Tour title following three runners-up finishes, ran undefeated through the event, including a hard-fought win over Russia’s Kristina Tkach to reach the final. However, her unbeaten run came to a halt in the final as she lost
Oliwia Zalewska
30 | Billiards Buzz • December 2021
