Fil-German stunner Lehnert captures 3rd ITF title

FIL-GERMAN Katharina Lehnert INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Philippine tennis’ poster girl pinned down another ITF title.

Katharina Lehnert, the German-born Filipina stunner captured her third ITF title in her young career after topping the $10,000 Sharm El Sheik in Egypt recently.

The 22-year-old defeated Russian Veronica Miroshnichenko, 6-4, 6-3, in the final for the title which was also her second this year after ruling another $10,000 tourney in Engis, Belgium last September.

Amid her growing popularity not only in the country but also in the Asian region, Lehnert said she’d rather concentrate on her career and play in bigger tournaments in the next few month.

Lehnert, who won two silver and one bronze medals for the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games early this year, is climbing up the world ranking where she is now at 401st in singles from a high of 389th in 2013.

Singapore SEAG website once described her as “the next Maria Sharapova” because of her big forehand and good looks.

On the way to the title in Egypt, Lehnert dispatched another Russian Anna Morgina (6-3, 6-1) in the semifinals, Slovakian Lenka Surikova (6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in the quaterfinals, Russian Anastasia Golubeva (6-2, 6-1) in the second round and Italian Claudia Franze (6-0, 6-1) in the first round.

In winning her title in Belgium, Lehnert defeated Vivian Heisen of Germany (6-3, 2-6, 6-1).

Lehnert also made semis of the Sharm El Sheik Week 1 but lost to Great Britain’s promising youngster Freya Christie (6-3, 2-6, 6-2).

The daughter of a Filipina teacher Imelda from Rosario La Union also made the finals in Prague after leading the Philippines to an unprecedented run in the Fed Cup last April.