Sydney: Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova avenged her US Open defeat to in-form Aryna Sabalenka Tuesday to move into round two of the Sydney International tennis tournament.
But less than a week before the Australian Open – the season’s first Grand Slam – there was more misery for 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, who crashed out early to Australia’s Ash Barty.
Kvitova, who slumped to 29 in the world after being attacked in her home by a knife-wielding man in 2016, has battled her way back to number eight and was encouraged by her 6-1, 7-5 win over the Belarusian.
However, poor form continued for Romanian Ostapenkoas she lost 3-6, 3-6 to Barty. Meanwhile, after picking up a thigh injury at the Hopman Cup, Garbine Muguruza – another major winner – safely negotiated her first-round encounter with fellow Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-4.
However, World No.5 Sloane Stephens battled back from the brink of a shock defeat to a qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova Tuesday to join two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in round two of the Sydney International.
Alexandrova won the first set to love and was serving for the match and two points away from victory in the second set. But Stephens somehow rallied to win 0-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3).
In the men’s draw Australian teenager Alex De Minaur, a finalist last year, continued his preparations for the Australian Open with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Dusan Lajovic. Towering Americans Sam Querrey and Reilly Opelka are also through to the next round.