While the rest of the world is celebrating and enjoying time off, WTA players are as busy as ever, trying to start their new season in the best way possible.
December 31st in Brisbane was marked by the beginning of main-draw play and it turned into a long day, as the match between Samantha Stosur and Marie Bouzkova finished past midnight, so it started in 2018 and finished in 2019! The world No.139 Bouzkova went through qualifying, then came back from a set down to beat the Australian in her home country and set up a second-round meeting with compatriot Karolina Pliskova, who progressed with a three-set victory over Yulia Putintseva.
Monday turned out to be a perfect day for qualifiers, as Bouzkova was joined in the second round by Harriet Dart, who defeated Priscilla Hon, and by Destanee Aiava, who stunned Kristina Mladenovic. Moreover, wildcard Kimberly Birrell upset Daria Kasatkina in a first-round match that lasted more than three hours.
In the photos by our Jimmie48 you can also see the first pics of Kiki Bertens wearing Fila, as well as former Adidas representative Anett Kontaveit in Lacoste. Both won their opening matches: Bertens eliminated Elise Mertens and Kontaveit lost just three games against Carla Suarez Navarro.
MORE 2019 BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOS:
- Sunday: Final round of qualifying + Kids Day
- Saturday: Kvitova, Stephens, Stosur get glamorous, others practice & battle in qualifying
- Friday: Leisure & qualifying, opening of the 2019 season
Do you have any information about Pliskova outfit?
Djole, sorry, no info yet. And it’s strange that Kiki and Kaja seem to be wearing completely different collections, not to mention Kimberly Birrell.
Djole, I got information about Pliskova’s outfit. Karolina was wearing pieces from the 2017 Tennis Heritage Collection in Brisbane. She embellished it with jewels from a Czech crystal company.