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- Viktorija Golubic (WTA 83) has to bow to Warwara Gritschowa (WTA 77) in the first round of the Australian Open.
- The Zurich woman lost to the Frenchwoman 1:6, 6:2, 1:6 in 1:41 hours.
- Belinda Bencic will play her opening game against Katie Boulter on Tuesday at 9 a.m. SRF broadcasts live.
Tennis can often be a strange sport. This was also the case in Viktorija Golubic’s first round game in Melbourne. The sentences in the duel with Varvara Grachowa couldn’t have been more different.
Was only able to keep up at times
Victoria Golubic.
Keystone/AP Photo/Dar Yasin
Too little initiative
The Swiss got off to a forgettable start and fell behind 5-0 at high speed. Although Golubic got into the game a little better towards the end of the first round, Gratschova, a Russian native who has been competing under the French flag since 2023, easily took the lead in the set.
A diametrically opposite picture emerged in the second round. Suddenly Golubic involved her opponent in longer rallies and thus provoked one or two mistakes from Gritschowa. Thanks to three breaks, the 33-year-old from Zurich won the second round 6:2.
Another turning point
Anyone who believed that the momentum was with Golubic was mistaken. The Swiss woman found herself in old waters in the decision-making sentence and completely left the initiative to her opponent.
While Gritschova regained her confidence from the baseline, Golubic could no longer raise her level. On the contrary: the Swiss didn’t play any of her four service games in the third round. So it suddenly happened quickly. After 1:41 hours, Gratschova used her first match point for a deserved 6:1, 2:6, 6:1 victory.
For Golubic it is already the 9th defeat in the first round at the Australian Open. But the “happy slam” isn’t quite over for the veteran. In the doubles competition, Golubic is registered alongside the American Ann Li.
Australian Open 2026
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