WTA Doha: Strycova, Tomljanovic, Muchova and Blinkova beat rivals and rain



by JOVICA ILIC

WTA Doha: Strycova, Tomljanovic, Muchova and Blinkova beat rivals and rain

After constant rain delays, all five matches that had been scheduled for Monday were completed, with four players reaching the main draw and Barbora Strycova who is the first player in the second round. The Czech needed just 64 minutes to dismiss Fatma Al Nabhani 6-1, 6-1 and make the best possible start despite some troubles on the second serve.

Al Nabhani won two games on the return although her serve didn't exist today, dropping almost 70% of the points in her games to lose serve seven times from nine chance offered to Strycova. Barbora played a loose service game at the beginning of the match before finding the rhythm to rattle off last five games for a 6-1.

Nothing changed in set number two, Strycova had one poor service game but her win was never in doubt after complete domination on the return that pushed her into the second round. Lin Zhu was even faster, dismantling the 2nd seed Alison Riske 6-2, 6-1 in an hour to secure the place in the main draw.

Riske probably knew she has the main draw spot guaranteed as a lucky loser and she played a terrible match despite serving at 70%, getting broken six times and never finding her rhythm against the lower-ranked opponent who seized the opportunity with both hands for a commanding win.

The top seed Ajla Tomljanovic battled past Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 46 minutes, repelling six out of eight break points and scoring four breaks from 14 opportunities to book the place in the main draw. Tomljanovic kicked off the match with a double break, serving well in the last three service games for a 6-3, wasting a 4-2 advantage in the second set before winning eight of the final 11 points to join the packed main draw field.

Wta Doha Lin Zhu Alison Riske