From Roland Garros to Alicante to Linz, Nadia Podoroska wins again

WTA Tour
Nadia Podoroska in action

Playing in her first match since her magical run at Roland Garros, Nadia Podoroska produced a solid display to reach the second round of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz.

The Argentine, playing in the main draw at the French Open for the first time, reached the semi-final in Paris in October to become the first qualifier to reach the last four.

After her fairytale display, she took time off before returning to action in Linz on Wednesday and she wasted no time to defeat Irina-Camelia Begu 6-4, 6-4.

“This year I learned a lot about myself, about my game. It was a very good year for me,” the sixth-seeded Podoroska said. “I improved many things [in my game], that was the most important thing.

“After [Roland Garros], I went back to Alicante. I live there, I train in Spain. I basically rested for one week, and then I started training again. So my life didn’t change too much; I’m playing another tournament, so my life is quite the same.”

Next up is Camila Giorgi after the Italian defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Second seed Elise Mertens also advanced, but the Belgian was forced to work for her win as she came from a set down to beat Anhelina Kalinina 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

“It may not have been the best match I played,” Mertens said. “It was a bit of a struggle in the first set. She played pretty aggressively and didn’t make a lot of mistakes.

“I tried to change in the second and third sets where I was stepping into the court more. I was mentally prepared for a battle, and it was certainly a battle until the end.”

She will face Vera Zvonareva for a place in the quarter-final after the Russian wildcard defeated Marta Kostyuk on Tuesday.

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Elise Mertens Nadia Podoroska

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