WTA Dubai: Jelena Ostapenko survives scare to overcome Wang Xiyu, Victoria Azarenka sets up clash v Elena Rybakina
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Updated 19/02/2024 at 13:35 GMT
Victoria Azarenka has teed up a mouth-watering second-round clash against world No.4 Elena Rybakina after beating Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus, 6-2 6-4 at the Dubai Open first round. Jelena Ostapenko is safely through after overcoming Wang Xiyu 5-7 6-2 6-3, despite losing the first set. Meanwhile, Petra Martic and Leylah Fernandez both booked their places in round two.
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Jelena Ostapenko recovered from a set down to edge out qualifier Wang Xiyu 5-7 6-2 6-3 to advance into the Dubai Open.
The world No.9 won the match after two hours and three minutes of play, and continues her stellar start to 2024 after winning titles in Adelaide and Linz.
However, this match began in anything but straightforward fashion amid three breaks of serve in the opening three games.
Ostapenko was broken twice more in the first set as Wang drew first blood on the Latvian's serve.
The 26-year-old's response was emphatic, as she broken Wang twice more and levelled the overall score on her second set point.
After surviving four break points in the third set, Ostapenko broke the Chinese player twice more and wrapped up the contest after her second match point.
Speaking after the victory, she admitted to losing track of the score in quotes published by wtatennis.com.
She said: "I thought the score was 5-2, and when it was 6-3, I was like, 'What's happening?'
"It's the first time I miscounted the score in my life, maybe since juniors. I was ready to play more, and the match was already over!"
Ostapenko is aiming for victory again in Dubai after winning this tournament two years ago by beating Sofia Kenin, Iga Swiatek, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep and Veronika Kudermetova on her way to the title.
"When I won in 2022 I had such tough matches," she added. "I feel this energy here."
Azarenka eases to win over Rus
Earlier in the day, Victoria Azarenka eased into the Dubai Open second round with a comfortable 6-2 6-4 victory over Arantxa Rus.
The 34-year-old prevailed after a mere one hour and 20 minutes of play in the United Arab Emirates, and sets up a tantalising second-round clash against world No.4 Elena Rybakina.
Azarenka immediately set her stall out by breaking the Dutchwoman's serve in the opening game, and did so again in the seventh to move 5-2 ahead.
She followed that up with an emphatic hold to love and move halfway towards victory after only 33 minutes of play.
Rus acquitted herself better in the second set, responding in fine fashion to break back against the Russian after surrendering on her serve again to draw level at 2-2.
But Azarenka's class eventually told, as she broke the Rus serve for a fourth time and took a comfortable hold to 15 to seal a place in round two.
Martic grinds out Dolehide win
Meanwhile, Petra Martic ground out a superb 6-4 7-6 (4) win over Caroline Dolehide to book her place in the second round.
The Croatian prevailed in just under two hours, beating an American ranked 16 places higher in the WTA singles rankings at 45th.
Dolehide was forced to swat away two break points in an opening game that she eventually held after going to deuce four times.
However, Martic managed to break through her serve in the seventh game to go 4-3 up, and wrapped up the first set with a hold to 30.
The 33-year-old showed admirably resilience after being broken in the second game of a closely-contested second set, before impressive winning the second set tie-break 7-4.
Martic will now face Magdalena Frech in the second round on Tuesday.
Fernandez cruises past Pera
Meanwhile, Canadian Leylah Fernandez made relatively light work of American qualifier Bernarda Pera with a 6-3 6-2 first-round win.
The 29-year-old acquitted herself relatively well in the opening four games, but was left to rue surrendering three break-point opportunities as Fernandez moved 3-2 in front.
Fernandez would then break the Canadian for the first time to increase her lead, ahead of wrapping up the set on her serve at 6-3.
The second set began in a pulsating fashion with five consecutive breaks of serve, as Fernandez took a 3-2 lead before Pera was broken again to swing momentum firmly in favour of the world No.33.
The 21-year-old secured the match on her first set point, and will face Italian Jasmine Paolini on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Karolina Pliskova beat Shuai Zhang 6-3 7-4, while Anastasia Potapova beat Lin Zhu in three sets with a 4-6 6-2 6-4 win.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova overcame Marie Bouzkova 6-4 6-3, while Veronika Kudermetova managed a couple of bagels in a 6-0 1-6 6-0 victory over Dayana Yastremska.
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