Hungarian Grand Prix: Tatjana Maria, Elina Avanesyan climb uphill; enter pre-quarters

The WTA Tour resumed in earnest after the completion of Wimbledon on 16th July. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria was among the first few to reach the second round. The German, seeded fifth, did need to work hard to win her opener, though. Maria eventually came from a set down to win 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 against Carole Monnet.

The opening set saw Monnet win a see-sawing set against the 35-year-old. Both players exchanged a break of serve each before the French player secured a second break to go up in the match. The second set saw both players trade multiple breaks of serve before the older opponent levelled the match in the tie-break. In the deciding set, Maria saved both break points she faced while converting two break points that came her way on Monnet’s serve.

Monnet won more first-serve points as compared to Maria – 61% to the latter’s 57%. But Maria fared better when it came to winning second-serve points. She won 64% of her second-serve points and won 60% points on return on her rival’s second serve.

In the next round, Maria will play either Hungarian wildcard Fanny Stollar or Spanish qualifier, Irene Burillo Escorihuela.

Hungarian Grand Prix: Kamilla Rakhimova, the sole seed out

Sixth seed Elina Avanesyan also needed three sets and a fightback from a set down to beat Rebecca Sramkova. After two hours and 25 minutes, Avanesyan prevailed 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 against the Slovakian. The world no. 69’s next opponent will be a Hungarian in either Timea Babos or Anna Bondar.

Meanwhile, Sramkova’s compatriot, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova got through her opener in a straight-sets encounter. Schmiedlova beat Polina Kudermetova 6-2, 6-0 in 71 minutes to reach the round-of-16.

The third Slovakian to play on Monday, Kristina Kucova lost her round-of-32 match-up. Slovenian Kaja Juvan won against Kucova 7-5, 6-2 in an hour and 26 minutes. Juvan will play Astra Sharma next. The Australian upset seventh seed Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-3.

Lastly Kateryna Baindl and Claire Liu reached the second round of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Baindl defeated local wildcard, Natalia Szabanin, 6-4, 7-5. Liu won against fellow American, qualifier Louisa Chirico, 6-4, 6-4.