New Delhi: Ekaterina Alexandrova handed former US Open champion Emma Raducanu a first round exit at Qatar Open, avenging her narrow Australian Open defeat last month while Amanda Anisimova ousted two-time champ Victoria Azarenka.
On Center Court, Alexandrova collected a 6-3, 7-5 victory after 1 hour and 42 minutes over Raducanu, having gone down to her at the Australian Open in two tiebreak sets.
“I was looking forward to this match because the last match we played, it was very close and very difficult, and I was really upset after that match,” Alexandrova said after her win.
“When I saw the draw, I thought that maybe it’s gonna be my chance. And I’m glad that I could win, even (though) it was a pretty difficult match to play. She played well.”
World No. 25 Alexandrova is on a five-match winning streak, having won the Linz title a week ago, after two runner-up finishes on previous editions.
Alexandrova next faces World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the second round, who enjoys a 4-3 superior head-to-head record in meetings between them.
Azarenka goes down, Andreeva outlasts Volynets
Anisimova went past former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5 in an hour and 34 minutes, slamming six aces to edge ahead 2-1 in the head-to-head count.
Azarenka had won in Doha in 2012 and 2013 But she trailed early on and despite a late surge in the second set, wasn’t able to come through.
No. 12 seed Mirra Andreeva battled past Katie Volynets 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in a 2-hour and 33-minute contest, taking revenge for the loss in their only previous meeting at Indian Wells last year.
Andreeva was a set and a break down but worked her way back into the match, capitalising on Andreeva’s failure to convert two set points at 5-4 in the second set.
The 17-year-old Andreeva won the second set in a tiebreaker to force the match into a decider. And then took a 5-4 lead to serve out the match.
Alexandrova won 6-3, 7-5 victory in 1 hour and 42 minutes in Doha, having gone down to Raducanu at the Australian Open last month. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
