Magda Linette battled past two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (11-9) to reach the second round at the Hobart International.
Kuznetsova fended off three set points on serve in the 10th game but Linette cruised through to a 7-2 win in the tie-break. Kuznetsova broke Linette when the Pole was serving for the match in the second set.
Kuznetsova fended off three match points as she was trailing 4-6 before earning three set points in the tie-break of the second set at 7-6, 8-7 and 9-8. Linette won the final three points to win the tie-break 11-9 setting up a second round match against US Lauren Davis, who edged Astra Sharma 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8-6) after fending off a match point in the tie-break of the third set.
“It was very difficult today. The wind was quite tricky. She is very experienced and she knows how to play. I had to bring my best today. You could hear that Svetlana was still a little bit sick, but it was super difficult to perform our best. I just had to find a way, and I am glad that I won”, said Linette.
Svetlana Kudemertova eased past former US champion Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-2. Kudemertova earned two breaks of serve to close out the opening set 6-2 with a forehand after 27 minutes. Kudemertova converted on her second break point in Stosur’s second service point and held on her serve before breaking serve for the third time in a row to race out to a 5-2 lead. Kudemertova will face either Catherine “Cici” Bellis or Marie Bouzkova.
Fiona Ferro reached the second round, when Rebecca Peterson retired at 4-4 in the first set due to a lower back injury.
Former Hobart champion Heather Watson rallied from 1-6 0-3 down to beat Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann 1-6 6-4 6-4. Krystina Pliskova came back from a set down to beat Serbian lucky loser Nina Stojanovic 1-6 6-4 6-3. Stojanovic received a spot in the main draw after Sorana Cristea was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a left leg injury.
