Tennis: Turkish player makes history at French Open

PARIS (AA) – Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay on Friday became the country's first female tennis player to qualify for the prestigious French Open’s women's singles category.

Beating Czech opponent Klara Koukalova in the qualifiers two sets to nil Friday, Buyukakcay will be the first ever female Turkish player to reach the main draw stage.

The 27-year-old Adana native, ranked 85th overall in women's tennis, took on Koukalova in the third round of the French Open qualifying matches.

Buyukakcay defeated Koukalova with scores of 6-1 and 6-3.

The history-making tennis player shared her feelings with Anadolu Agency after the match, saying she was glad to reach the main draw stage.

“This is my first year; we came here with high hopes. I played against very tough players since the beginning," she said.