Donna Vekic causes a significant upset by defeating the champion of the Australian Open, Sabalenka, in the opening round of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Despite not being fully committed to the match, Vekic managed to defeat Sabalenka, marking the end of her winning streak. After winning the first set in a tie-break, Sabalenka lost control of the match and lost two consecutive sets. Vekic, who is a familiar opponent to Sabalenka, put up a strong fight and won the match without dropping a single game. She emerged victorious with a score of 6(5)-7, 6-3, 6-0 and advanced to the next round of the tournament.
Vekic had considered this tournament as a semi-vacation and entered with a low mindset due to the quick change in conditions. In an interview with WTA, she mentioned that the court was too fast for her and she didn’t expect to last long. Prior to this win, Vekic had faced two first-round losses. However, defeating a top player like Sabalenka has surely boosted her confidence as she prepares to face Sorana Cirstea, another strong competitor.
Aryna Sabalenka experienced a major upset at the Dubai Tennis Championships as she was defeated by the talented Donna Vekic, despite being in a winning position. Vekic made the most of the opportunity and secured a remarkable victory. Not only did she come back from being a set down, but she also finished the match with a bagel in the final set. This win extends Vekic’s head-to-head record against Sabalenka to 6-2.
Vekic now enters the round of 16 in the tournament and is set to face another powerful player, who recently won against an undisclosed opponent. Vekic aims to maintain her current form and make a deep run in the tournament. The competition remains intense as other top players have yet to reach the final 16. With a challenging draw, any player has the opportunity to succeed, making the tournament more thrilling than ever.
According to the Source firstsportz.com