ADELAIDE: In a gripping opening round at the Adelaide International on Tuesday, Jelena Ostapenko showcased her resilience as she battled past Sorana Cirstea in a thrilling encounter. Seeded sixth, Ostapenko’s victory came after a slow start, marked by a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 turnaround against a formidable opponent.
Fresh off her quarter-final run at the Brisbane International, Ostapenko’s determination was on full display during this Australian Open warm-up event. The win also carried a tinge of redemption for Ostapenko, who had suffered a defeat at the hands of Cirstea in last year’s Wimbledon.
The match began with Cirstea seizing an early lead, securing four consecutive games to claim the opening set. However, the former French Open champion swiftly regained her footing in the second set, punctuating her resurgence with consecutive aces that forced the match into a decisive third set.
With a commanding 5-2 advantage, Ostapenko seemed poised for a straightforward victory. Yet, a hiccup arose as she faced a setback, getting broken while serving for the match. Despite the tension, she persisted, battling through missed match points at 5-3 before ultimately sealing the win with her sixth ace.
In other matches, Laura Siegemund, part of the victorious German team in the United Cup, caused an upset by defeating the 14th-ranked Liudmila Samsonova in a hard-fought 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-4 encounter. Meanwhile, former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin commenced her journey at the Hobart International with a solid 6-3, 6-3 win against Greet Minnen, showcasing her prowess by saving all three break points she faced. Her next challenge awaits in a showdown against Daria Saville for a coveted spot in the quarter-finals.
Shifting focus to the men’s side, Denis Shapovalov made his comeback to the tour since last year’s Wimbledon but faced a tough 6-4, 6-2 defeat against Sebastian Ofner at the Auckland Classic.
The Adelaide International continues to unfold with gripping matches and unexpected outcomes, setting the stage for further thrilling clashes as the tournament progresses.
