No.5 seed Jelena Ostapenko got here out on high of a rollercoaster first spherical on the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, edging Danielle Collins 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 in 2 hours and 18 minutes.
Ostapenko, who collected her fifth and most up-to-date title in Dubai final February, is now on a six-match profitable streak on Emirati soil. It was her second win in as many conferences at professional stage with Collins; the Latvian additionally triumphed 7-6(1), 6-3 within the 2018 Miami semifinals.
No.12-ranked Ostapenko is recent off a run to the Australian Open quarterfinals final month, and can face both Zheng Qinwen or qualifier Rebecca Marino within the second spherical.
In the meantime on Day 1, Marta Kostyuk pulled off a outstanding drop shot from the baseline en path to her 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 first-round win over Sorana Cirstea.
Turning factors: The conflict between two of the tour’s foremost exponents of first-strike energy was characterised by unpredictable momentum swings. Within the first set, No.42-ranked Collins made the primary transfer, breaking Ostapenko with a clear return winner for 4-3. However the American double faulted down break level when serving for the set, and it was Ostapenko who stole the opening act with a four-game run.
Former Australian Open finalist Collins responded beautifully within the second set, with three consecutive return winners paving the way in which to a double-break lead and setting the tone for a one-sided passage of play. However Ostapenko wrested momentum again after capturing a titanic tussle at first of the decider, changing her fifth break level to steer 2-1.
Three double faults in a single sport from the previous Roland Garros champion allowed Collins to attract stage at 4-4, however within the dwelling stretch it was Ostapenko who was each extra aggressive and extra clutch. From 5-4 down, she powered by 12 of the final 15 factors to seal victory.
By the numbers: The ultimate stat sheet was in Collins’ favour: 33 winners (together with 11 aces) to Ostapenko’s 30 (together with six aces), an equal variety of unforced errors (44 apiece) and fewer double faults (seven to 9).
However one significant disparity within the pairs’ numbers was within the effectiveness of the second serve. Collins took simply 5 of 19 factors behind it within the first set, and 7 of 17 within the third; total, her second serve profitable proportion was 37% in comparison with Ostapenko’s 49%.
Certainly, Ostapenko’s second serve profitable percentages within the first and third units had been an honest 67% and 53% respectively. Within the center set, it was not a lot her second function each deliveries that permit her down, garnering her solely 5 factors on serve in whole.
In Ostapenko’s phrases: “Danielle is a good participant, and it is at all times a troublesome match in opposition to her as a result of she performs rather well and he or she’s such a fighter. The match is rarely over till we shake arms. I am actually glad that, regardless that in some video games I did not play my greatest, I used to be combating and I managed to win the match. These sorts of matches give confidence.
Information Abstract:
- Ostapenko edges Collins in seesaw Abu Dhabi opener
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