ZCZC
BSP-20
TENNIS-WTA-AUS-ADELAIDE
Unseeded Rogers stuns third seed Konta in Adelaide
ADELAIDE, Australia, Feb 23, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Unseeded American Shelby
Rogers stunned third seed Johanna Konta with a display of raw power in the
second round of the Adelaide International on Tuesday.
Rogers served superbly and was ruthless with her returns to see off the
British star 6-2, 6-2 in just 76 minutes.
The 28-year-old Rogers has been in good form in Australia, reaching the
fourth round of the Australian Open last week before falling to world number
one Ash Barty.
She broke Konta’s first service game and was never troubled after that,
breaking the former world number four twice in each set to run out a
comfortable winner.
“I started the match really well with a quick break and I just kept the
momentum going,” Rogers said.
“I knew I had to bring my best game tonight for Jo because she’s got an
incredible game.
“She can pretty much serve you off the court when she wants to, so I was
very happy with my return game tonight.”
There were no problems for the three other seeded players in action, all
playing their first round matches.
Fifth seeded Pole Iga Swiatek, Petra Martic, the sixth seed from Croatia,
and seventh ranked Yulia Putintseva all progressed.
French Open champion Swiatek beat American Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-4 and
will now play Maddison Inglis in the second round after the Australian
qualifier downed countrywoman Samantha Stosur.
Martic came back from losing the first set to Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova
to win 4-6, 6-0, 7-5, while Putintseva beat Laura Siegemund in straight sets
6-4, 6-4.
Martic next plays American qualifier Cori Gauff, a 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2
winner over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, while Putintseva takes on Storm Sanders,
who stunned fellow Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-2 in just 63 minutes.
In other matches, Japan’s Misaki Doi beat Anna Blinkova of Russia 7-6
(7/5), 3-6, 6-2, and Swiss player Jil Teichmann downed Frenchwoman Kristina
Mladenovic 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).
BSS/AFP/SSS/1906 hrs