Google News
Competing for the first time in 2019, a former Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has made a winning return after an injury, beating the 6th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 in two hours and 22 minutes. Both players scored seven breaks of serve and it was Kuznetsova who created more opportunities, squandering a massive lead in the decider before finishing the job in the tie break.
Alexandrova clinched the opening set after four straight games from 3-2 down and Kuznetsova was back on track when she secured three consecutive breaks at the start of the second set for a 3-2 rattling off four straight games for a 6-2 and the momentum before the decider where she opened a 4-1 advantage with a three breaks on her tally.
Ekaterina pulled one break back to reduce the deficit and leveled the score at 5-5 with a late break, saving four match points at 2-6 in the breaker before Svetlana claimed the last two points to move over the finish line first.
Home player Viktorija Golubic had to spend more than two and a half hours on the court in a 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 victory over Arantxa Rus, winning two points more than her opponent and staying focused in the closing stages of the second set to dominate in the decider and seal the deal.
Rus settled into an excellent rhythm in the middle of the opening set, earning breaks in games four and six and ensuring it with a hold at 5-3. The Dutch broke again at 5-5 in the second set, serving for the victory before Golubic made one last push, pulling the break back to level the score at 6-6 and send the set into a tie break that she won 7-5 to stay in contention.
From 2-1 down in the decider, Viktorija drove the match towards the finish line, rattling off five straight games to cement the triumph in front of the home fans and reach the second round. The 4th seed Alison Van Uytvanck survived a bagel against Tereza Smitkova in a 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 win in an hour and 47 minutes, saving 11 out of 15 break points and gaining four breaks to stay in contention and steal the triumph.
The Belgian kicked off the match in the best possible way, opening a 4-0 lead and moving 6-2 up after saving a break point in game eight. Smitkova bounced back in set number two to serve a bagel, gaining the momentum before the third set where Alison regained the composure, breaking twice in a row to take the set 6-4 and avoid an early exit.
The 16-year-old Clara Tauson defeated Tereza Mrdeza 6-3, 6-3 to stay undefeated in both junior and pro tournaments in 2019, entering the first WTA main draw in a career.