By Giovanni Vianello
It was not rich of emotions on the first game-day of the WTA Nottingham Open, where one of the first WTA grass-court tournaments is taking place.
The most spectacular match of the first day was the one between 19-year-old Jana Fett and seventh seed Mona Barthel. The 136-minute encounter saw the Croatian teenager prevail 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. In the first set a sole break, in advantage of Fett, sealed her the 6-3 lead before the world No.48 battled back to level proceedings. Bathel was within touching distance of the finish line, but failed to capitalize on her 5-3 lead in the decider and failed to convert a trio of match points. The failure allowed the qualifier to fight her way back and eventually seal the match.
Joining Barthel on the exit list, is eighth-seeded Naomi Osaka. Facing American qualifier, Kristie Ahn, who is playing her first tour-level grass tournament, the Japanese player crashed out 6-1, 6-1, in just 48 minutes. Impressively Ahn won 96% of her first service points compared to her opponent’s total of 35%. It is her first victory over a top-60 player. Ahn will next play Poland’s Magda Linette, who defeated Oceane Dodin 6-4 7-6(5).
2010 Wimbledon semifinalist Tsvetana Pironkova resumed her love affair with the grass by dismissing Czech player Tereza Martincova 6-2, 6-2. The Bulgarian is bidding to win her second WTA title this week and first since 2014.
Yania Wickmayer will be top seed Joana Konta’s first opponent in the tournament. The Belgian defeated 2014 Australian Open girls champion Elizaveta Kulichkova 6-4 6-4, with both sets decided by a break in advantage of Wickmayer in the tenth game. Konta has received a first round bye.
Elsewhere at the tournament, Julia Boserup saved 13 out of 14 break points to defeat home favourite Laura Robson 6-4, 6-3. Meanwhile, Hsieh Su-Wei edged past Kristina Kucova 6-1, 6-4. .
