HK teen impresses against world No 2

Hong Kong under-19 champion Lee Ka-yi showed she was the one to watch as she held her own against world number two Jenny Duncalf in the biggest game of her fledgling career yesterday.

The teenager was far from overawed in the first round of the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open, and delighted a packed centre court crowd with a brave display in a four-game defeat to the experienced Englishwoman.

Lee, who turns 18 a week from tomorrow, recovered from losing the first game 11-4 against the 29-year-old, going down narrowly 11-9 in the second, and fired in winners at the end of the third to pull a game back 11-8.

Though Duncalf stepped up a level in the fourth to win 11-9, Lee can be proud of an impressive debut on the big stage.

'It was a good experience,' said the teenager, who admitted to being tense under her calm exterior. 'I've never even played with top-12 players before. I think in the first set I was nervous, but I played better in the others. I tried my best, but in terms of fitness and skills I have a lot of room to improve. I'm really pleased to take a game off the world number two, she's definitely the best player I've played against.

'She controlled the game so well and had better game management. Obviously she wasn't nervous like me and even though I took a game off her she could still play it safe.

'Hopefully I can do better over the next year and maybe get to the second round next time.'