Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open: Ostapenko edges Collins in opener

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World No.12 Jelena Ostapenko booked her place within the subsequent spherical after producing a powerful efficiency to beat Danielle Collins in three units as the primary singles class received underway on the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open

Headlining Monday’s play on the International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports Centre, Ostapenko got here out on prime within the first-round encounter with the Latvian triumphing 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 within the WTA 500-level occasion that has attracted a robust subject of top-20 gamers.

In a good opening set, Ostapenko did sufficient to take the primary set 7-5 however Collins, a runner-up on the 2022 Australian Open bounced again to degree the tie 6-1 in a one-sided set.

In the decider, each gamers have been on the prime of their recreation however Ostapenko broke Collins’ serve late on to seal the set 7-5.

Speaking after the match, Ostapenko, a quarter-finalist on the current Australian Open, was happy to return by way of this tough check.

“It was a tough opening match against Collins, an Australian Open finalist and there is no easy draw at all in tournaments but I was glad that I was fighting until the last point in the match. There were times where I didn’t play my best so these type of matches will give me a lot of confidence,” she mentioned. 

“Collins is a great player and is always very difficult to play against and I feel very proud of myself today.”

In the opposite singles matches, Belgium’s Elise Mertens claimed a straight-sets victory towards Italy’s Martina Trevisan 6-0, 6-2, to ebook her place within the last-16 whereas Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk wanted three units to safe a 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 victory over Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.

In the qualifying rounds, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez beat Ukraine’s Katarina Zavatska  6-1, 6-4 to arrange a first-round conflict towards USA’s Shelby Rogers.

Meanwhile, prime seed and World No.8 Daria Kasatkina, who opens her marketing campaign this week is hoping to have a long term within the match and had nothing however reward for the services at Zayed Sports City and Abu Dhabi.

“It feels great to be here and it’s my second time in Abu Dhabi. The facilities here are amazing, there are plenty of tennis courts and the centre court is very nice,” she mentioned. 

“I already knew what to expect having visited Abu Dhabi before and there are so many great sports facilities and in general.”

In the doubles class, Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands have been knocked out after dropping 6-3, 6-4 to Kirsten Flipkens and Laura Siegemund. Earlier within the day, Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic superior following a 6-3, 6-4 win towards Veronika Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova.

The match will proceed on Tuesday with former World No1s Garbiñe Muguruza tackle Karolína Plíšková, whereas 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu clashes with Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.