Stay tuned for updates from the Yarra Valley Classic throughout the day. Also, keep tabs on Day 3 of the Gippsland Cup, also happening at Melbourne Park, here!
Make it eight winners in a row for Sofia Kenin at Melbourne Park.
The Australian Open champion is ruling back to the site of her biggest career award as a No.2 seed at the Yarra Valley Class this week and found a safe passage through to the third round at the WTA 500 event when Camila Giorgi let go. retired after the opening set of the groove in their second round with a left injury.
“Obviously this is not the way I wanted to win. I hope she’s going to feel better. It was a good game. I hope she feels better. for the Aussie Open, ”Kenin said, briefing reporters after the game.
“It’s unfortunate, but I feel like I played well. It’s a win. I’m going to take it, of course. I felt like I was felt my game very well today, even though I was making a lot of non-critical mistakes with my forehand.It was weird, I felt really good … just made a few non-critical mistakes . “
From 3-0 up, Kenin quickly found themselves 4-3 against the hot and cold Italian, with the patented tennis first strike from the baseline forcing Kenin to make mistakes, but also she caused non-judgmental mistakes of her own.
Eventually, with an explosion of movement in the closing stages of the set, World No.4 got three straight games for a one-set lead, 7-5, and shortly thereafter, the retirement effect. .
Assessing her performance in the abbreviated match in her court interview with former WTA player Jill Craybas, Kenin said: “I missed too many forehands and she picked up the game. I told myself the forehands and I was able to rule out the first set. “
Next up for Kenin as she looks to keep her non-stop climbing at Melbourne Park alive is teammate Jessica Pegula, who came from 5-2 down in the second set to beat Mona Barthel, 6- 4, 7-5 in Germany.
Podoroska, Rogers wins
Seed No.14 Nadia Podoroska and American Shelby Rogers, two surprise packs at Grand Slams in 2020, come together in form ahead of the first major of 2021. Both places were secured in the third round with different effects.
Rogers, a quarter-finalist at the U.S. Open, defeated Rebecca Peterson in Sweden in nearly two and a half hours, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, while Podoroska, a semifinalist French Open, welcome Beet Minnen from Belgium in direct routes. , 6-3, 6-4.
The Argentine could face a semifinal for Kenin in the bottom half of the draw, and the 23-year-old was effectively praised by the American when he was encouraged by a reporter at her press conference .
“She’s a really good girl,” Kenin told Wod Newcomer of the Year Podoroska. “I don’t know her so well, but she has a really good game, a tough game. She had a good run at the French. She’s obviously good for Fila’s family. We’re all part of Fila. I I think she’s really good. She ‘s playing big. She’ s sad. “
More to come from the Yarra Valley Classic
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, and a popcorn match between No.4 seed Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams are among the games on tap for later Tuesday. Click here for full play order, which also includes games from the Gippsland Cup.