Adelaide: On the first day of the ATP-WTA Adelaide International on Monday, Barbora Krejcikova, the former winner of the French Open, and Beatriz Haddad Maia, ranked sixth, both suffered high-profile defeats to qualifiers.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, another Russian, defeated Brazil’s Haddad Maia 6-3, 6-4, while Czech fourth seed Krejcikova lost 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to the same opponent.
Krejcikova was playing her first match of the season ahead of the Australian Open. “It was a great match, she’s a very good fighter,” remarked the 75th-ranked Kalinskaya of her opponent. “She added a lot of complexity to the contest. I’m glad I prevailed since I’m getting better at tennis every day.”
After overcoming her opponent in almost three hours, Kalinskaya is currently in the winner’s circle, facing either American Claire Liu or Russian world number 15 Daria Kasatkina.
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With 29 victories, the 59th-ranked Pavlyuchenkova advanced and broke Haddad Maia three times before losing to Krejcikova in the 2021 French Open final. “I made an effort to stick to my plan. She is a fighter, and she will return if you give her the chance,” Pavlyuchenkova remarked.
Next up for her is a match against 49th-ranked Katerina Siniakova or big-serving Karolina Pliskova. First-round bye went to top seed Elena Rybakina, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka, the defending Australian Open winner, to win the Brisbane International on Sunday.
Cristina Bucsa will be her opponent in the round of 16, having defeated Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-3. Just two matches were finished at the WTA Hobart International due to rain.
Elise Mertens, the top seed, easily advanced after defeating Danielle Collins, an American, 6-2, 6-3.
