• As already reported, in the first round of the Cincinnati “WTA 1000” doubles Alyona Ostapenko/Ludmila Kichenok defeated the Belgian and the Spaniard to reach the round of 16.
• 15th racket in the world Alon Ostapenko in the first round of the singles tournament, played against the Lebanese-born Brazilian Beatrice Haddad-Maya (#16). The balance of mutual matches so far was 2-0 in favor of our tennis player (we played four and five years ago), but last week the Brazilian showed the best tennis of her career, defeated the leader of the ranking and reached the finals in Toronto.
→ In the first game of the match, Ostapenko confidently held her serve (1:0), but the Brazilian managed to do the same – 1:1. In the third game, three inaccurate shots led to 15-40, but our team won the next four episodes – 2:1. In the fifth and seventh set, the server Ostapenko left her opponents at zero – 3:2, 4:3. The Brazilian missed the court and thus provided our team with the first break opportunity, which was not used in the long game. In the ninth game, Ostapenko committed two double faults and eventually made it 5-4. During the break, the Brazilian changed her top in front of the camera. While serving to her opponent, Alona combined perfectly twice in a row, continued with three inaccurate serves and reached 40-40, but then Beatrice hit the net and in a difficult situation missed the court – 6:4.
→ → At the beginning of the next set, Ostapenko did not hold serve (0:1). Haddad-Maya won all episodes (0:2), and Ostapenko did the same – 1:2. The Latvian tennis player executed three irresistible shots and earned a break opportunity, which she failed to use. The Brazilian made a double fault (40-40) and sent the ball across the court, but then Ostapenko aggressively attacked and hit an irresistible shot – 2:2. In the fifth game, ours was on a wave and won all episodes – 3:2. The Brazilian made it 3-3 and took a new racket, but Ostapenko convincingly made it 4-3. Beatrice hit across the court, while Alona ended a long game with a hit on the sideline, and also stood out with an irresistible shot and thus earned two break points at once, of which she used the second one, executing an excellent shot on the sideline – 5:3. In her service game, Ostapenko got into the chase (15-40), which was used by her opponent (5:4). Beatrice hit the net and sent the ball across the field, and also missed again – three match points. Followed by the Brazilian’s run and an irresistible shot performed by Alona – 6:4.
Penko with a big W (and roar ????️) over an in-form Haddad Maia pic.twitter.com/avYobT3raB
— Ryan (@Some1NamedRyan) August 17, 2022
Game statistics
| Ostapenko | Hadada-Maija | |
|---|---|---|
| you will go | 4 | 3 |
| Double mistakes | 2 | 1 |
| 1. serve | 60.4% | 65.1% |
| Points after 1st serve | 78.1% (25/32) | 73.2% (30/41) |
| Points after 2nd serve | 57.1% (12/21) | 22.7% (5/22) |
| Break balls | 4/8 | 2/5 |
| Points | 65 | 51 |
Ostapenko’s kit game remains UNDEFEATED pic.twitter.com/XS0rJztIZY
— Ryan (@Some1NamedRyan) August 16, 2022
• The start of the match was delayed quite a bit because of the long previous matches, and in addition, it rained unexpectedly in Aneta Kontaveita’s match.
• The game was relatively poorly attended at the beginning, as Serena Williams and Emma Radukana played in parallel in an almost full central stadium.
• Reaching the second round is worth $16,340 in prize money and 60 ranking points.
• In this tournament, Ostapenko has to defend 105 points, which were awarded last year for the round of 16 in Cincinnati.
• In the second round, there will be a fight against the American Madison Keys (#24), and then she could face the world number one Iga Šviontek.
Everybody wants a selfie with Queen of Fasion. pic.twitter.com/BU5pAJSkPT
— Jess ???? (@jessica4stein) August 17, 2022
Resources used:
wtatennis.com
