Sad news:Top recruit lost by Jelena Ostapenko to….
Jelena Ostapenko’s poor start to the season continued as the French Open champion was beaten by Ekaterina Makarova in the first round of the Sydney International tennis tournament.
Jelena Ostapenko lost to Ekaterina Makarova in the first round of the Sydney International tennis tournament.(Twitter)
Jelena Ostapenko lost to Ekaterina Makarova in the first round of the Sydney International tennis tournament.(Twitter)
Kristyna Pliskova defeated Ostapenko in her first competitive match of the year at the Shenzhen Open and the Latvian – who beat Serena Williams in a recent Abu Dhabi exhibition match – suffered another setback ahead of the Australian Open, losing 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 to Makarova in searing heat on Sunday.
Share your thoughts about Hindustan Times and unveil a surprise! Submit Feedback!
(Read | Julia Goerges withdraws from Sydney International tennis with injury)
There were three double faults in Ostapenko’s first service game and although the third seed’s fighting qualities enabled her to break three times in the opening set, she paid the price for too many errors in the tie-break.
Makarova only avoided the qualifying stages when her fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova withdrew due to injury and she took advantage of being handed a first-round spot, breaking twice in a one-sided second set to advance.
(Read | Rafael Nadal to join Novak Djokovic at Kooyong Classic tennis)
World number 343 Ellen Perez is a surprise name in the second round after Kristina Mladenovic retired at 6-4 4-2 down on a scorching day.
Mladenovic called for treatment a handful of times in gruelling conditions and the fifth seed was unable to see out the match, Perez advancing in her homeland at just her second WTA tournament.
