Sergeyev beats Statham in Kazakh tennis meet

Ivan Sergeyev of Ukraine defeated Jose Rubin Statham of New Zealand 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the Cup of President tennis tournament here.

Victor Baluda of Russia beat Timur Khabibulin of Kazakhstan 6-2 and 6-0 in another match played on Monday, Xinhua reports.

In the women's singles, Alize Lim of France beat Michaela Honcova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-1, Alexandra Panova of Russia defeated Asiya Dair of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-1, and Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand got past Yang Zi of China 6-3, 6-2.

Ksenia Pervak downed her Kazak opponent Kamila Kerimbayeva 6-2, 6-0, and Zarina Diyas beat her fellow rival Anna Danilina 2-6, 6-3 and 6-2 in front of their home fans.

The tournament has attracted the participation of Dudi Sela of Israel, 88th-ranked in ATP, Teimuraz Gabashvili (Russia, 137), Ivan Sergeyev (Ukraine, 177), Konstantin Kravchuk (Russia, 179), Marsel Ilhan (Turkey, 180).

The women players include 106th-ranked Maria Joao Koehler (Portugal), Luksika Kumkum (Thailand, 107), Nina Bratchikova (Russia, 139), Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand, 165) and Nadia Kichenok (Ukraine,171).

The total prize fund is $225,000.