Palermo PHOTOS: Juvan upsets Vondrousova, Kontaveit wraps up first-round action

August 4, 2020

Unlike Monday’s 2 a.m. finish, first-round action completed on Tuesday at the Palermo Ladies Open before midnight.

Kaja Juvan on how she adapted her game to conditions in Palermo: “It was pretty windy, so we were both playing pretty safe. I think she took more chances in the first set, and then in the second and third set I just told myself, go for the ball, play more aggressive, take the ball when it’s going up instead of down.”

Nineteen-year-old Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan recorded the first Top 20 victory of her career, showing great composure to see off second seed Marketa Vondrousova 1-6 7-5 6-4. The world No.121 Juvan’s opponent in the second round will be Italian Camila Giorgi, as the Italian, who matched her attractive snake print tennis dress with a beige face mask and Maria Sharapova Head racquet bag, thrilled the home crowd by dispatching Rebecca Peterson 7-5 6-4.

Camila Giorgi always attracts attention with her on-court style.

Top seed Petra Martic fought off all the four break points she faced to ease past Alison Van Uytvanck 6-0 6-3. The Croatian player will face Liudmila Samsonova in the second round, as the Russian qualifier upset Kirsten Flipkens 6-4 6-2 earlier on Tuesday.

Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich stunned fifth seed Elise Mertens 6-4 6-1 and advanced to the second round where she will play against Italian world No.95 Jasmine Paolini, who saved 24 break points to overcome Daria Kasatkina yesterday.

French players Fiona Ferro and Oceane Dodin advanced with victories over Nadia Podorska and Tamara Zidansek, respectively.