AGEL OPEN 2022: Kvitova and Martincová advance to the next round

In a separate recap of the first day of play at AGEL Open 2022 in Ostrava, we look at the opening matches of the tournament, which also featured two local players – Petra Kvitová and Tereza Martincová. The doubles competition has also started, with Nikola Bartůňková and Barbora Palicová battling it out.

Czech lioness moves on

Petra Kvitova (20th) accepted the organizers’ wild card at the last minute and was facing qualifier Bernarda Pera (43rd) from the USA as the seeded player in the first round. The match started with a dominant performance by Kvitova, who took a 5:0 lead in the first set.

Then the Czech Lioness lost one of her serves, but winning the first set 6: 3 did not change that. But the second set clearly belonged to her opponent. Kvitova seemed to regain a one break advantage in the third game. But Pera defended her serve and managed to take Kvitova’s serve in the sixth game. The American managed to do the same in the eighth game – 2::6.

In the deciding third set, Pera was one break ahead. Despite breathing problems, Kvitova managed to turn the match around and finish the match victorious. The two-time Wimbledon winner thus advanced to the eighth round, where she will face the number two seed Paula Badosa (4th) from Spain.

Petra Kvitova (20th) – Bernarda Pera (43rd) – 2::1 (6::3, 2::6, 6::4)

Martincova also celebrates advancing

Tereza Martincova (78th) also advanced to the next round after she managed to beat the better-ranked Swiss Jil Teichmann (36th).

Martincova did not start the tournament well at all, she was already down 1::5 in the first set and was close to losing the first game. However, even two set points were not enough for the Swiss player and Martincova managed to turn the game around with an incredible performance, erase her opponent’s lead and win the tiebreak with a dominant 7:1.

In the second set the game was more even and Martincova held a one break lead, but she couldn’t hold it and the tiebreak came again. The 27-year-old Czech did better from the start and built up a 6:2 lead. She managed to convert the fourth match point after 2 hours 21 minutes to win 2: 0 in sets.

Martinsova will face Anett Kontaveit ( 3rd) in the next round, who came to Ostrava as a finalist of the tournament in Tallinn, where she lost to Barbora Krejcikova.

Tereza Martincova (78th) – Jil Teichmann (36th) – 2::0 (7::6(1), 7::6(5))

Young Czechs rejoice in doubles

After their failure in qualification, Nikola Bartůňková and Barbora Palicová teamed up in doubles. And immediately they were happy to advance to the next round.

After a very even match they managed to beat the pair Natela Dzalamidzeová/Alexandra Panova in two sets. The first set had to be decided by a tiebreak, while in the second set the break of the Czech hopes in the seventh game was crucial.

Bartůňková/Palicová – Dzalamidze/Panova – 2::0 (7::6(4), 6::4)

In the other matches, Australia’s Alja Tomljanicova (34th) continued her great form and defeated China’s Shuai Chang (27th) in two sets 6::3, 6::3.

Also advancing is Ekaterina Alexandrova (21st), who knocked out Victoria Azarenka (24th) of Belarus. Madison Keys (17th), who was eliminated by Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina (26th), is also out.

Ajla Tomljanovic (34th) – Shuai Chang (27th) 6::3, 6::3
Viktoria Azarenka (24th) – Ekaterina Alexandrova (21st) 4::6, 6::4, 2::6
Madison Keys (17th) – Jelena Rybakina ( 26th) 7::5, 3::6, 3::6

Sources: WTA, Livesport