Croatian tennis player Marin Čilić (ATP – 27th) advanced to the second round of the Australian Open, defeating Ecuadorian Emilio Gomez 6:3, 6:1, 6:2 after one hour and 43 minutes of play.
The only Croatian representative in the men’s competition easily topped the 153rd tennis player in the world, who won a place in the main tournament through qualifications.
Čilić lost only six games and took advantage of seven break opportunities out of 11. Gomez made one break in the first set.
In the second round, Čilić will play against Slovak Norbert Gombos (ATP – 117th), also a qualifier, who defeated Timofey Skatov 6:3, 6:2, 1:6, 6:4 in the first round.
Ana Konjuh (WTA – 58th), the last Croatian representative in the main part of the tournament, advanced to the second round in the women’s competition.
After two hours and 19 minutes of play, Konjuh defeated American Shelby Rodgers (WTA – 36th) 4:6, 6:3, 7:5.
In the third set, Konjuh was the first to break and served at 5:4 to end the match in her favor. However, Konjuh did not use three match points, and Rodgers returned. But Konjuh broke gain, won eight points in a row, and advanced to the second round. Konjuh had 5/9 on break points, and Rodgers 4/8.
This was her first Grand Slam victory since Wimbledon in 2017. In the second round, Konjuh will play against the match winner between Danielle Rose Collins and Caroline Dolehide.
Donna Vekić finished her jubilee, 10th appearance at the Australian Open in the first round It was her premiere performance of the new season. Vekić lost to American Alison Riske (46th on the WTA list), winning only four games – 6:2, 6:2. Donna scored three aces, had a first-serve percentage of 44 percent, and did not reach a single break point. This was their sixth meeting and the third victory for the 31-year-old American.
After Vekić, Petra Martić was easily defeated in the first round after two sets against Jil Teichmann, 37th on the WTA list – 6:3, 6:3. Petra started the match with a break, only to lose her serve twice by the end of the set. The second set was decided after breaks in the third and ninth games. Martić scored two aces during the match with a first-serve percentage of 55 percent and used one of four break points.
This was Petra’s 11th appearance at the Australian Open and seventh defeat in the first round.
Source: HTS
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