511th-ranked Lee So-ra beats 170th-ranked Ozaki of Japan

Lee So-ra (21, NH NongHyup Bank) has won the title at an International Tennis Federation (IFT) Challenger Championship for the first time in her career. Left-handed Lee, ranking 511th in global rankings, defeated 2-1 (6-4, 3-6, 6-4) Lisa Ozaki of Japan, who is ranking 170th, in an intense match that lasted for more than three hours, at the single competition final at the NH NongHyup Bank Goyang International Challenger Championship on Saturday. Lee led 5-0 in Set 3, but lost four straight games to face a crisis, but secured her victory by menacing the opponent by banking on her powerful strokes.

Lee drew attention as a promising player in 2008 when she won the title at the age-14 category of Orange Ball in the U.S., a world-class junior championship. But she has displayed lackluster performance in the championships for grown-ups, as she has only won the title twice at circuit championships that are lower in grade than challenger championships.

Lee has paved the way to take a new leap forward after moving from Samsung Securities to NH NongHyup Bank led by Coach Park Yong-guk last year. She said, “I have gained self-confidence in my quest to advance to a larger stage.”