Americans Vandeweghe, Brengle Advance in Dubai
Americans Coco Vandeweghe and Madison Brengle won their respective first round matchups on Monday to advance to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships second round.
Vandeweghe pulled the day’s biggest upset with a 7-6(5), 6-1 victory over sixth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova.
In a matchup between two big hitters, it was Vandeweghe who held her nerve on serve better throughout the match. A slick backhand on Pliskova’s serve in the first set tiebreaker gave two set points to Vandeweghe, and the American capitalized on the second one to take the opener.
The second set belonged to Vandeweghe. She won 84 percent of her first serve points and saved both of the break points she faced, while converting on three of her four break point chances to cruise past Pliskova for the straight set victory.
“Taking care of my service games was my main focus. And then in the tiebreaker, I mean, every point matters. So when I had my opportunity, I was going to take it,” said Vandeweghe. “Sometimes I messed up and other times I was successful. But I wasn’t going to allow her to dictate me in the tiebreaker.
Then the second set, getting that early break was really key. Then, you know, from there I just kind of went into a rhythm and continued to steamroll.”
Vandeweghe will take on France’s Kristina Mladenovic, who took out Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 7-6(1) in her first round matchup.
Brengle knocked off Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 7-5 in her opener. Brengle was able to convert on five of her nine break point chances to oust Makarova in straight sets.
Up next for Brengle will be fourth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova.
In another upset on Monday, former Dubai runner-up Julia Goerges needed less than an hour to oust eighth-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 6-0. Goerges will take on Barbora Strycova, who beat qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova 6-4, 6-3.
On Tuesday, Ana Ivanovic steamrolled Australia’s Daria Gavrilova 6-1, 6-0 to secure her spot in the second round, where she will take on top seed Simona Halep.
