Adelaide International: Kasatkina and Putintseva Reach Second Round

The Adelaide International witnessed a major upset as Donna Vekic crashed out, while Kasatkina and Putintseva progressed to the second round.

Daria Kasatkina and Paula Badosa Advance in Adelaide

World number nine Daria Kasatkina cruised into the Adelaide International second round on Monday, defeating Australia's Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-3. Kasatkina's dominant performance was marked by five breaks of serve. “I think Adelaide is the tournament I've played most in my career,” Kasatkina reflected. As the runner-up at the last two editions of the Australian Open warm-up event, Kasatkina is familiar with the tournament. “It's the beginning of the season, I'm happy to be back.”

Kasatkina's tactics paid off, as she focused on using her legs to win points and playing aggressively when opportunities arose. “My tactic today was to turn on my legs and win as many points as possible and play aggressively when I had the chance,” she explained. This approach has served Kasatkina well, having made six WTA finals last year and winning two titles.

Meanwhile, Spain's Paula Badosa narrowly avoided defeat, battling for nearly three hours to complete a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-5 comeback win over American Peyton Stearns. The grueling match left Badosa exhausted but relieved. “I'm so tired, I went through all the emotions,” she said. As a former world number two now ranked 12, Badosa is seeking to regain her momentum.

In contrast, Paris Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekic suffered her third straight defeat of the season, crashing out of the Adelaide International.

Kasatkina and Putintseva Advance in Adelaide

Third seed Daria Kasatkina got off to a strong start in Adelaide, navigating a tumultuous opening to her match on the Memorial Drive centre court. The encounter saw four service breaks in the first five games, setting the tone for a closely contested match. Kasatkina will next face Emerson Jones, last year's Australian Open and Wimbledon junior runner-up, who impressed with a 6-4, 6-0 win over China's Wang Xinyu.

Vekic Suffers Defeat in Adelaide

Croatia's Donna Vekic, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, experienced a setback in her Australian Open preparations, suffering a 6-2, 6-3 defeat to Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva. Vekic's build-up to the first Grand Slam of the year has been less than ideal, having also lost two group matches in Perth at the United Cup. Putintseva's victory propelled her into a second-round clash against either American fourth seed Danielle Collins or Tunisian wildcard Ons Jabeur.

Putintseva Reflects on Her Win

Putintseva was pleased with her performance, stating, “Today I played great, I was focused all the way through.” She acknowledged her familiarity with Vekic's game, saying, “We've played so much and know each other's games well. There are no secrets on the court.” Putintseva's win marked a significant milestone in her Adelaide campaign, as she prepares to face a formidable opponent in the next round.

Other Matches in Adelaide

In other matches, 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez was eliminated by Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova, who secured a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory. The first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, is set to commence in Melbourne on Sunday.