Ostapenko marches on, but Goerges and Bencic out
Seventh seed Jelena Ostapenko needed three sets to beat Ying-Ying Duan at the Australian Open while Julia Goerges and Belinda Bencic crashed out.
French Open champion Ostapenko had to pull out all the stops to get the better of the world No 100 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the second round at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.
The match had 17 breaks of serve, but luckily for the world No 7 she came out in top to book her third-round clash against Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit.
Jelena #Ostapenko with an ???? influence in her corner with experienced #WTA coach David Taylor.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ovp6dpQrFr
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2018
“She was hitting the ball really hard,” Ostapenko said. “I’m so happy I could win.
“Everyone wants to beat you when you’ve won a Grand Slam so I’ll just keep trying my best.”
Meanwhile, Goerges’s magnificent unbeaten run came to an end as she lost in straight sets to Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.
The 12th-ranked German went into the match on the back of 15 wins in a row after winning back-to-back titles at the end of 2017 and the Auckland Classic at the start of 2018.
However, Cornet brushed her aside 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 31 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
“She had so many wins in a row and I’m just happy to break the spell,” Cornet said.
Benic, who upset American Venus Williams in the opening round, is also out after she went down 6-1, 6-3 against Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum.
Fourth seed Elina Svitolina is safely through after she came from a set down to beat Katerina Siniakova 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The Ukrainian will face 15-year-old sensation Marta Kostyuk next.
Latest
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner makes revealing comment on his eyesight after Miami Open win
Jannik Sinner opened up on his use of contact lenses on court.
-
Tennis News
Martina Navratilova serves up a desperate verdict on Andy Murray’s comeback hopes
Andy Murray is likely to have to wait several days to learn how long he will be sidelined for by the ankle injury he suffered in Miami.
-
Tennis News
Jannik Sinner reveals he has been having Call of Duty sessions with Italian football hero
Jannik Sinner has had some high-profile gaming clashes with Italy’s No 1 goalkeeper.
-
Tennis News
Former British No 1 offers up a theory to explain Novak Djokovic’s shock announcement
Has Novak Djokovic lined up a new coach following his decision to part ways with Goran Ivanisevic?
-
ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic’s bombshell announcement fuels growing doubts over his tennis future
Speculation swirling over Novak Djokovic’s long-term future in tennis after his shock move.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic’s final moments of dominance were hard to spot – can he reclaim his crown?
Novak Djokovic’s reign as the king of men’s tennis appeared to be set to run and run – but the mood has changed.
-
WTA Tour
Victoria Azarenka used ‘parenting techniques’ to cope with Miami Open technical meltdown
Victoria Azarenka’s latest match was held up as the line-calling technology broke down – and she was not impressed.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz makes Jannik Sinner confession during Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer rivalry comparison
“I hope it will allow me to get the best out of myself … seeing the standard he sets.”
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic 3.0: Tennis great’s latest re-invention already underway with ruthless coaching move
The innovation doesn’t stop with Novak Djokovic.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic announces shock departure of long-term coach – ‘Thanks for everything my friend’
Did anyone see that Novak Djokovic coaching bombshell coming?