‘It was a confident round despite the brutal conditions and pouring rain over the final 10 holes,’ said 17-year-Rayan
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova withdrew from the Adelaide International on Tuesday citing a right hip injury, five days before the Australian Open starts in Melbourne.
The No. 7-ranked Vondrousova pulled out of the tournament hours before her scheduled first-round match against Russian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Taylor Townsend took her place in the draw and beat Sasnovich 6-3, 7-6 (4) in a night match. She had played doubles earlier and was getting a massage when an alert came through that she had been elevated to the singles main draw.
“It was crazy because I was in the training room getting a massage. I was nice and relaxed. I was already showered, changed clothes,” she said. “You never know what can happen. You just have to be ready.”
Sixth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko was broken while serving for the match at 5-2 in the third set and missed two match points in the next game before finally fending off Sorana Cirstea 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
The 2017 French Open champion will next play Caroline Garcia, who beat local wildcard entry Taylah Preston, Australia, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
“I feel like I was sleeping in the first set,” Ostapenko said. “I’m not a morning person; I needed time to get into the match. When I start to take time and be a bit more calm, I play better."
Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova upset former No. 1-ranked Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 6-1, winning 10 consecutive games after dropping serve early.
Two days after helping Germany win the United Cup final, Laura Siegemund needed almost three hours for her 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-4 win over seventh-seeded Liudmila Samsonova, recovering breaks in the second and third sets.
In the ATP tournament in Adelaide, Australia’s Jordan Thompson followed up his win over Rafael Nadal last week in the Brisbane International quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-2 over Facundo Diaz Acosta to move into second-round match against No. 4-seeded Lorenzo Musetti. Daniel Evans beat Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-4.
ALSO READ:
‘It was a confident round despite the brutal conditions and pouring rain over the final 10 holes,’ said 17-year-Rayan
Dubai Basketball will be looking to win their third straight game when they take on the Serbian team at Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday
APGC Chairman Amin highlights the UAE’s impressive growth in golf and anticipates the 2025 Championship will build on the nation's legacy of hosting prestigious tournaments
The teenage duo will join a field of 120 golfers from 43 APGC member nations in the tournament that concludes on Sunday
“It has been a privilege to witness and contribute to the growth of both Dubai and the golf industry here,” said McMurdo as he reflected on his time at Dubai's famous Resort Golf Course
The second season will see six teams vying for the honours in London after the inaugural season was won by Triveni Continental Kings in Dubai last year
The champion of this week's tournament will earn invites to both The Masters and The Open
His strategy involves investing in modern amenities, expanding instructional programs, and highlighting the course's unique features in Dubai's competitive golf landscape