Dubai Open: Ons Jabeur, Barbora Strycova survive tricky opponents in three-setters

Marketa Vondrousova defeated Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday in 69 minutes. The Czech awaits the winner between third seed and two-time former champion Elina Svitolina, and American qualifier Jennifer Brady in the second round.

Tunisian wild card Ons Jabeur needed three sets to defeat the US’ Alison Riske in their opener. At the end of two hours and 12 minutes of play, Jabeur won 7-6(3), 1-6, 6-3 to advance to the second round. She will play top-seed Simona Halep, who received a bye in the first round.

After the match, Jabeur said, of her opponent, “She's such a fighter. We know that all the players who fight like this, it's tough to win against them. She didn't give me any easy balls at the beginning, so I had to go and win my point. She has such flat and tricky shots; it was kind of tough for me to really spin a little bit and put the ball in.”

The Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova also came through in three sets against another American, Amanda Anisimova. Strycova won 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4 after two hours and 33 minutes. Either eighth seed Petra Martic or lucky loser Su-Wei Hsieh, who replaced Kiki Bertens in the draw, will face Strycova in the round-of-16.

Elise Mertens ousted Qiang Wang in their opener. The Belgian won in straight sets 6-3, 6-0 in just 62 minutes. Mertens will take on the winner of the Maria Sakkari-Aryna Sabalenka match in the second round.

The only seeded player to play on the first day of main draw action, Garbine Muguruza – seeded ninth – defeated Kim Clijsters in the first match of her comeback. Muguruza won in straight sets 6-2, 7-6(6).

Photo Credit: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Website

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