Grand Slam champs roar off in Dubai

Petra Kvitova and Barbora Krejcikova raced into the second round on Sunday’s opening day at the WTA Dubai event with straight-set wins.

Double Wimbledon winner Kvitova accounted for Italy’s Marta Trevisan 6-1, 6-2, while Krejcikova, the 29th-ranked 2021 Roland Garros titleholder, beat Romanian Irina Begu 6-2, 6-4.

 Czech Marie Bouzkova dispatched a winner of a major with her 6-1, -1 thrashing for former Australian Open champ Sofia Kenin.

Kvitova won Dubai a decade ago; the veteran converted on six of eight break points and finished off victory with an ace after just 69 minutes against Trevisan, who managed only one winner.

Czech teen Linda Fruhvirtova, 17, beat former Grand Slam finalist (Australia, 2022) Danielle Collins 6-3, 6-4,firing six aces in victory.

In the day;’s marathon at the Aviation Club, No. 15 Liudmila Samsonova spent nearly three and a half hours before putting out Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 6-4, replying on a dozen aces.

“Playing against Paula is always tough,” the winner said. “I’m really proud that I stayed on the court until the end. 

“I’m growing match after match, day by day. I know it’s a long journey, and I hope to continue like that.”

Main photo:- Petra Kvitova celebrates by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd