Synopsis
Jasmine Paolini and Emma Navarro showcased their talents with decisive victories at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Paolini defeated Eva Lys while Navarro overwhelmed Beatriz Haddad Maia, setting up intriguing second-round matches.Key Takeaways
- Paolini and Navarro both advanced in Stuttgart.
- Paolini dominated her match against Lys.
- Navarro had a strong tournament debut.
- Next matches feature tough opponents.
- Ostapenko's victory came under unusual circumstances.
Stuttgart, April 16 (IANS) Jasmine Paolini and Emma Navarro proved their seeded status at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Tuesday night, swiftly securing first-round victories at the WTA 500 indoor-clay tournament in Stuttgart, Germany.
The No. 5 seed Paolini from Italy took just 1 hour and 4 minutes to defeat Eva Lys with a score of 6-2, 6-1, moving closer to replicating her quarterfinal appearance from the previous year, according to WTA reports.
Paolini dominated, winning an impressive 73 percent of points on Lys's first serve, achieving a 6-for-8 success rate on break points. This victory improved her record against Lys to 2-0 (4-0 in sets).
The World No. 6 Paolini is set to face a German wild card in her next match, Jule Niemeier, for the second consecutive time.
Later on, No. 7 seed Navarro made a remarkable debut in Stuttgart, overwhelming Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 6-0.
In a 1-hour and 16-minute contest between Top 20 competitors, Navarro unleashed 24 winners compared to Haddad Maia's eight. She converted four out of nine break points and maintained a perfect service game.
“I’ve had many lengthy matches this year, often going three sets. Winning a bit quicker feels good. I’m proud of my form... This is my first tournament on red clay this year, so I’m embracing it and enjoying the experience,” Navarro expressed.
Navarro's next challenge is against a former Grand Slam champion in the second round, where she will face Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 Roland Garros winner, for the first time.
Ostapenko secured her advancement to the second round by defeating Dayana Yastremska in the day’s opening match on Centre Court. With a score of 6-3, 3-0 in her favor, her Ukrainian doubles partner had to retire due to illness.
The 2017 French Open champion shared her mixed feelings afterward, saying, “I played well but it’s unfortunate when a match ends this way. I hope it’s nothing serious. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the tournament is very well organized. Even if the courts are a bit slower this year, it's still a lot of fun.”
