DOHA, February 23, 2016
The first round of the WTA Premier Qatar Total Open in Doha concluded on Monday with ninth seed Roberta Vinci gaining a comfortable win over Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-1 in 64 minutes to take on Daria Kasatkina next. This day, the 33-year-old Italian was also announced as the newest member of the top 10.
”I’m so happy finally that I’m in the top ten. Also today was a tough match. It’s always tough to play first round. So windy. The court is little bit strange. Sometimes it’s fast. Sometimes it’s slow. Completely different than Dubai the last week. I’m so happy for both,” she told.
“One year ago I didn’t expect this but of course after the US Open, my life has changed a bit. I reached my first final there, beat Serena. Then I played so well in China. Step by step. I am confident. I am good. That’s why I am in the top 10 right now.”
Caroline Woznaicki fought back, winning 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 against Ana Konjuh in two hours and 35 minutes to face Daria Gavrilova next, who cruised past Misaki Doi 6-1, 6-1.
“Well, it’s nice to get through. It wasn’t really pretty out there, but a win is a win. And being able to win even if you don’t play or best is better than to lose when you play great. So I’m going to take it,” Wozniacki told.
“She started off much better. I started off really poorly. Just really needed to get myself going. Then I started playing much better in the second set and had a few games there where I felt like my old self. Then it kind of went a bit up and down after that. So definitely going to try to get a better start tomorrow.”
Caroline Wozniacki (photo: Samer Rejjal)
On Sunday, wild card Eugenie Bouchad battled past Anastasija Sevastova, winning 5-7, 6-3, 7-6. The 21-year-old Canadian only won 59% of her first service points but capitalized on six of her 15 break point chances to seal victory in two hours and 28 minutes.
10th seed Karolina Pliskova fell in the opening round to Margarita Gasparyan1-6, 1-6 in only 49 minutes. The Russian is going to face Andrea Petkovic next, who defeated Ekaterina Makarova for the fourth time in as many meetings with the world number 32. The 28-year-old German won 6-3, 6-2 in 67 minutes.
Two qualifiers also advanced to the second round, as Donna Vekic cruised past wild card Fatma Al Nabhani 6-0, 6-0 in 50 minutes, and Kateryna Bondarenko upset Annika Beck 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 35 minutes.
Donna Vekic (photo: Samer Al-Rejjal)
