MELBOURNE: The a great deal-enhanced Anett Kontaveit began her tilt at a maiden Grand Slam title with 6-2, 6-3 spherical-a single romp at the Australian Open Tuesday as she appears to make on a breakout 2021.
The Estonian sixth seed proved far too hot for Czech doubles expert Katerina Siniakova on John Cain Arena, blitzing previous her in 81 minutes, smacking 26 winners.
She will subsequent fulfill possibly Australian Astra Sharma or Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
The understated 25-calendar year-aged is shaping up as a really serious contender at Melbourne Park following her electric variety in the next half of final time.
It noticed her capture four titles in two months ahead of ending runner-up at the WTA Finals to Garbine Muguruza, culminating a stellar calendar year-stop operate where she gained 28 of her final 32 matches.
“The to start with spherical is generally a bit anxious but definitely content the way I got heading in the very first set and felt I played improved and greater,” she claimed.
“I genuinely hope I can have the momentum (from 2021) into this 12 months.”
Kontaveit experienced won her past a few encounters with Siniakova, such as all through title runs final 12 months at Cleveland and Moscow, and soon after early nerves rapidly took demand.
They exchanged breaks in the 1st established one right before Kontaviet reeled off 4 online games in a row, showcasing the strong groundstrokes that have propelled her into the best 10.
But the 48th-rated Czech, runner-up in the Australian Open up doubles final year with Barbora Krejcikova, was not all set to give up and a extensive Kontaveit forehand acquired her a crack to go 2-1 up in the second.
It turned out to be a blip, with the Estonian promptly breaking back two times as she drew errors from her exasperated opponent and raced to victory.
Kontaveit attained the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park in 2020, her best exhibiting so far at a Grand Slam.
The Estonian sixth seed proved far too hot for Czech doubles expert Katerina Siniakova on John Cain Arena, blitzing previous her in 81 minutes, smacking 26 winners.
She will subsequent fulfill possibly Australian Astra Sharma or Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
The understated 25-calendar year-aged is shaping up as a really serious contender at Melbourne Park following her electric variety in the next half of final time.
It noticed her capture four titles in two months ahead of ending runner-up at the WTA Finals to Garbine Muguruza, culminating a stellar calendar year-stop operate where she gained 28 of her final 32 matches.
“The to start with spherical is generally a bit anxious but definitely content the way I got heading in the very first set and felt I played improved and greater,” she claimed.
“I genuinely hope I can have the momentum (from 2021) into this 12 months.”
Kontaveit experienced won her past a few encounters with Siniakova, such as all through title runs final 12 months at Cleveland and Moscow, and soon after early nerves rapidly took demand.
They exchanged breaks in the 1st established one right before Kontaviet reeled off 4 online games in a row, showcasing the strong groundstrokes that have propelled her into the best 10.
But the 48th-rated Czech, runner-up in the Australian Open up doubles final year with Barbora Krejcikova, was not all set to give up and a extensive Kontaveit forehand acquired her a crack to go 2-1 up in the second.
It turned out to be a blip, with the Estonian promptly breaking back two times as she drew errors from her exasperated opponent and raced to victory.
Kontaveit attained the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park in 2020, her best exhibiting so far at a Grand Slam.
