Google News Citi DC Open: Jennifer Brady marks comeback momentum with win over Anhelina Kalinina
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Four of the five American women who played their first-round matches at the Citi DC Open on Tuesday advanced to the second round. This included Jennifer Brady, who’s making a return to the circuit after injuries, and Madison Keys.
The 28-year-old Brady defeated Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-2, 6-1 in 68 minutes. Brady lost only two of the 20 points she played on her first serve to Kalinina’s 15 off 28. Both players struggled to do well on their second serve.
The former world no. 13 won 39% of her first-serve points to the 28th-ranked Kalinina’s 30%. She hit 20 winners and had 16 unforced errors to Kalinina’s 16 winners and 26 unforced errors. The ongoing tournament in Washington DC’s the first on the WTA Tour that Brady’s playing since 2021.
Earlier, she’d made her comeback with the ITF $100,000 tournament in Canada. Back in 2021, Brady had been at the peak of her career when she reached the Australian Open final to start the year (lost to Naomi Osaka). That same year, in Cincinnati, it all came crashing down for her as she struggled with injuries to her leg.
Against Jelena Ostapenko in the second round of the Cincinnati Open, Brady retired and then was forced to sit back for almost two years, until now. In the second round, the now-ranked world no. 1056 will play fellow countrywoman, Madison Keys.
The seventh seed got past Qinwen Zheng 7-5, 6-1 in an hour and 28 minutes.
Citi DC Open: Karolina Pliskova's downward spiral continues
The most striking win for an American on the second day of play in the country capital was that of Hailey Baptiste.
The 21-year-old who came through the qualifying draw to reach the main draw defeated former no. 1 in the world, Karolina Pliskova in their first-round clash. The 204th-ranked Baptiste needed an hour and 25 minutes to post a 6-1, 0-6, 6-3 win over the Czech.
Peyton Stearns, who made it into the draw as a lucky loser after the withdrawal of Sofia Kenin, also got into the second round. Stearns won against Polish qualifier Magdalena Frech, 6-1, 6-4. Stearns’ next opponent will be world no.
4 and compatriot, Jessica Pegula. Meanwhile, Canadian qualifier Leylah Fernandez ousted Bernarda Pera 6-3, 7-5 in their first-round encounter. The all-left-handers’ match-up saw the 2021 Flushing Meadows’ finalist clinch the win in an hour and 35 minutes.
Lastly, Sorana Cirstea also took her place in the second round of the Citi DC Open. The Romanian defeated Croatia’s Petra Martic 6-3, 7-6(13) after an hour and 50 minutes of play.