Lousada, November 24, 2024 – The Europe Today: Kazakhstan’s world No. 334, Zhibek Kulambayeva, paired with Yuliya Hatouka of Russia (ranked 419th), secured a remarkable victory in the Women’s Doubles event at the ITF W35 Lousada tournament in Portugal.
The Kazakh-Russian duo triumphed in the finals against Polina Iatcenko (ranked 407th) of Russia and Hanne Vandewinkel (ranked 235th) of Belgium. Demonstrating resilience and teamwork, Kulambayeva and Hatouka overcame their opponents with a scoreline of 6:3, 1:6, 10:4 to claim the title.
Despite her doubles success, Kulambayeva faced disappointment in the singles competition. She was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Germany’s Katharina Hobgarski (ranked 379th), losing in straight sets, 6:2, 6:0.
The victory in doubles adds another significant milestone to Kulambayeva’s career, showcasing her skill and determination on the international tennis stage.
