Tennis News

BASTAD, Sweden – A relieved Anna Karolina Schmiedlova returned to winning ways with a straight set victory over Susanne Celik in the first round of the Ericsson Open on Monday afternoon.

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Schmiedlova’s 6-1, 6-3 win was her first at a WTA event since January and sets up a second-round meeting with either Katerina Siniakova and Jana Cepelova.

“I’m really happy that I won because I lost, I don’t know how many – I didn’t count – maybe 15 matches in a row, so it’s a special feeling and I’m very happy,” Schmiedlova said.

“It was a good match. She played well – I didn’t know her very well as I hadn’t played her – and I think she can be a good player. But I’m really happy that I won, even thought I was a little bit nervous at the end.”

If Schmiedlova was feeling pressure at the end, she masked it well, reeling off the final three games to close out a morale-boosting victory. Having lost so matches – many from commanding positions – the overriding feeling after finally making it across the line was of relief.

“I’ve been playing better the past weeks. I also played well at Roland Garros – I lost against Muguruza, but it was three sets and I really felt good. Also last week [in Bucharest] I lost from match point up, so I’ve already played tough matches and maybe today I was a little bit more experienced than her at this level,” she added.

Elsewhere in the top half of the draw, Karina Knapp defeated Denisa Allertova, 6-2, 6-4. Meanwhile, in the final round of qualifying, there were wins for Katerina Siniakova, Kateryna Kozlova, Lucie Hradecka, Jana Cepelova and Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Carla Suárez Navarro, the 2016 champion, has withdrawn from next week’s Qatar Total Open in Doha. World No.8 Svetlana Kuznetsova has also pulled out with a minor abdominal injury.

Suárez Navarro has suffered an injury to her right shoulder and this is the third time it has forced her out of a tournament this year. She also said in January that it had disrupted her preparations for the Australian Open, where she fell in the second round.

Kuznetsova, the two-times runner-up, misses out with what has been described as a minor abdominal strain. The World No.8 said in a statement: “I am sad to announce that I am not able to participate in the Qatar Total Open this year. I recently sustained a minor abdominal injury.

“My doctors have advised me to rest so I can be prepared to get back on the court as soon as possible. Doha puts on an amazing event and I apologize to all the fans that I won’t be joining this year, but I look forward to coming back next year. I extend my best wishes to the organziers.”