SANTA PONSA/CALVIA, June 14, 2016
While most of the grass court tournaments in Europe had to deal with bad weather, the main draw of the inaugural edition of the €250,000 WTA Mallorca Open kicked off in perfect weather conditions with a lot of sunshine.
The only seeded player in action on Monday was the tournament’s number six Caroline Garcia, who ousted with Carina Witthöft one of five Germans in the draw. The 22-year-old from France fired 11 aces, winning 75% of her first service points to advance in one hour and 34 minutes. It was the second victory for Garcia over Witthöft in as many meetings between the two. She plays either Anna-Lena Friedsam or Ana Bogdan next.
First WIN of 2016 on grass court 7/5 6/4 💪🏼👊🏼🌱🎾😃☀️ @MallorcaOpen #NoPasaNada #FlyWithCaro #Vamos
— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) 13. Juni 2016
Anastasija Sevastova cruised past Stefanie Voegele, winning 6-0, 6-2 in only 48 minutes. The 26-year-old from Latvia saved the only break point she faced, converting three of her own awaiting the winner of the encounter between eighth seed Eugenie Bouchard and Danka Kovinic in the second round.
Mariana Duque-Marino had to fight hard, rallying back 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Alison van Uytvanck. The world number 79 from Colombia won 69% of her first service points to prevail in one hour and 39 minutes, facing either Sabine Lisicki or Kristina Mladenovic next.
The former Wimbledon finalist from Germany teamed up with Eugenie Bouchard in the doubles competition already, but the pair lost their opening match against Jelena Jankovic and Aleksandria Naydenova 6-7, 6-4, 15-17.
Seven players, who captured a total of 12 Grand Slam titles feature the tournament on the Balearic Island. Four time mixed major champion Daniel Hantuchova was granted a wild card and opened her Mallorca campaign in a successful way with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Yaroslava Shvedova. The 33-year-old from Slovakia needed 69 minutes to finish the encounter.
The field is headlined by reigning Roland Garros champion Garbine Muguruza. The top-seed will step into action on Tuesday, playing Kirsten Flipkins for the fourth time. Muguruza leads 2-1 in head to head records.
