Clara Tauson Beats Sofia Kenin in Dubai Round 1

Tauson advances in Dubai with win over Kenin

Clara Tauson defeats Sofia Kenin 6-4, 7-6 in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

“It was a nice round number. I was really happy with the serves, because the rest of my game was not working so well...”

Clara Tauson stormed past USA's Sofia Kenin in the WTA 1000 tournament first round, firing 20 aces to secure the win. The match was crucial for Tauson, who had several points to defend in Dubai and risked dropping out of the top 20 if she lost.

Tauson's impressive performance in Dubai last year, where she reached the final, seemed to have given her the momentum needed to start this year's tournament strong.

Kenin and Tauson were locked in a tight battle in the first set, with the score tied at 5-5. But Tauson broke Kenin's serve, taking a 6-5 lead. Kenin pushed back, breaking Tauson's serve to level the score at 6-6. The set went to a tiebreak, where Tauson took control with two aces, winning 7-4.

Tauson's serve was on fire in the first set, with 13 aces propelling her forward. Her strong serving game continued into the second set, though the aces were less frequent.

As the match progressed, Tauson found her groove, playing with conviction and chasing Kenin around the court. She looked comfortable and stylish, dictating the pace of the game.

Tauson broke Kenin's serve in the first game, taking a 2-0 lead. The American looked discouraged and frustrated as Tauson continued to dominate.

Tauson broke again to 5-2 and served out the match, finishing with her 20th ace - a fitting end to a dominant performance.

“It was a nice round number. I was really happy with the serves, because the rest of my game was not working so well. I felt extra pressure because I reached the final last year,” said Tauson, who is seeded as number 12 in the tournament.

Tauson's next up is Peyton Stearns, ranked 58th in the world. The American will look to cause an upset in the second round.