Czech tennis player Tereza Martincova defeated the tenth-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the first round of the WTA 1000 Qatar Open. The match lasted more than 3 hours and the Czech player won by 2-1 (6:7, 7:6, 7:5).
The match was very equal during all the time and the statistics prove that. Both players won 57% of their 1st Serve Points, but maybe the small difference came in the service, as Tereza Martincova had 67% 1st Serve Percentage, versus 61% for Elina Svitolina. However, the Ukrainian save 12 break points (out of 22), compared to only 1 (out of 10) for her opponent. They both were equal also in the 1st Return Points, each having 43%.
The match started perfectly for Elina Svitolina, who took advantage after a break in the first game. She was leading confidently, but in the sixth game of the set, however, Tereza Martincova succeeded to return the break, equalizing the score to 3:3. Her joy had not lasted long, as already in the next game, Elina Svitolina succeeded to get again advantage in the result. She continue moving the set in her favor and the result went 4:5, giving an opportunity for the Ukrainian to serve for the set. However, she gave two break points to her opponent, who eventually succeeded to equalize the score again. And the drama was full, as both players exchanged a break and the set entered into a tiebreak, which was won by Elina Svitolina with 2-7.
The second set gave even more dramatic moments for both players. They exchanged two breaks each in the first four games and the result was moving equally. In the eleventh game, at result 5:5, Tereza Martincova had a chance to break her opponent and to serve for the set. She failed in the first attempt, but with the second break point succeeded. On her own service, the Czech player won the game on zero and closed the set.
The third set started with the longest game in the match at the service of Elina Svitolina. In it, the Czech played had 4 break points and the match passed through 6 deuces, but finally, the Ukrainian won the game. Tereza Martincova won the next game and succeeded to take a lead after breaking the service of Elina Svitolina. However, the Ukrainian returned the break and the set was equalized again. It continued moving without a clear advantage for any of the players, despite the 4 breaks. The set entered in tiebreak and this time Tereza Martincova won it by 7-5.
In the next round, the Czech player will face the winner between Arantxa Rus and Veronika Kudermetova.
In the other matches of the day, Jelena Ostapenko defeated Oceane Dodin with 2-0 (6:4, 6:2), Magda Linette qualified for the next round after a victory versus Alison Riske with 2-1 (2:6, 7:6, 6:1), and Viktorija Golubic won the match versus Andrea Petkovic with 2-0 (6:4, 6:4).