Google News Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Jelena Ostapenko ends Emma Raducanu's Stuttgart road in 1R
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Jelena Ostapenko routed Emma Raducanu in their first-round match-up at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Tuesday. The Latvian needed merely 58 minutes to wrap up a 6-2, 6-1 win over the Briton. Ostapenko won 80% of her first-serve points.
She won just as many points on return on Raducanu’s second serve while winning 74% of her second-serve points. The 25-year-old saved the only break point she faced while converting all five break point chances that came her way.
After the win, Ostapenko said, “I knew against her the main thing was to step in the court. Of course, I missed some balls but I tried to be aggressive all the time when it was possible. Just try to take the ball early, don't give her many chances.
And finally, I'm back on clay, my favourite surface”. In the second round, the 2017 Roland Garros champion will play third seed Ons Jabeur.
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Barbora Krejcikova and Paula Badosa impress
Meanwhile, another French Open winner, the 2021 titlist, Barbora Krejcikova also advanced to the second round with a similarly one-sided win.
The Czech needed an hour and 23 minutes to post a 6-2, 6-3 win against Liudmila Samsonova. Krejcikova faced seven break points but saved the lot. She converted five out of the eight break points that came her way on Samsonova’s serve.
Krejcikova won 77% of her first-serve points to Samsonova’s 55% and 61% points on return on her opponent’s second serve. Next up for Krejcikova will be second seed Aryna Sabalenka. This match-up between Krejcikova and Sabalenka will be the fourth time they will be playing this year.
Earlier, Krejcikova won their first match of 2023, at the Dubai Open. Later, Sabalenka won their next two matches in Indian Wells and at the Miami Open. Spain’s Paula Badosa posted an early upset at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Badosa took down Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-1 in their round-of-32 clash. Badosa needed just 70 minutes to score the win over the seventh seed. Badosa’s second-round match will be a derby against compatriot, Cristina Bucsa.
Photo Credit: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Twitter 