Angelique Kerber cruised past Wang Qiang 6-1 6-3 to score her first win of the 2020 season at the Adelaide International after losing to Samantha Stosur in the opening round in Brisbane last week.
Kerber held serve at 15 before breaking serve at love. The 2016 Australian Open champion converted on her sixth break point chance in a 12-minute fourth game.
Wang saved a break point in the first game of the second game before dropping serve in the third game to trail 1-2. Kerber fended off a break point in the eighth game and wrapped up the match, as Wang sent a forehand long. Kerber secured her spot in the second round, where she will face Dayana Yastremska. Kerber and Yastremska will meet for the first time in their careers.
“The first set I played well and I felt good. The second set was really tight. It’s my first win this year, so I am really happy about her. Hopefully I can can play today in the next round”, said Kerber.
Ajla Tomljanovic beat Kazakh qualifier Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in just under two hours on Centre Court to set up a second round clash against 2019 Wimbledon champion Simona Halep.
Tomljanovic rallied from a break down in the first set at 0-3 and faced two set points on her serve in the 10th game of the second set. The Australian player fended them off to force the first set to the tie-break, where she egded Putintseva 7-4.
The second set started with four breaks in the first five games. Tomljanovic broke twice in a row in the sixth and eighth games to win the second set 6-2.
“It was not the greatest start. I don’t even think it was nerves. I was not too focused at the start. You have to be really sharp, disciplined, but still aggressive. It took me a little bit to find the balance. Once I got going, it was a battle. She is always tough. She never gives up”, said Tomljanovic.
