BRISBANE: The Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova outlasted Australian wildcard Talia Gibson 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3 in a three hour marathon in the opening round of the Brisbane International on Sunday.

World number 44 Bouzkova was expected to have a comfortable opener against the 20-year-old Australian, but was pushed all the way by the big-hitting Gibson.

She will now play seventh seeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko in the second round of the season-opening tournament.

“She has so much power so I was behind in a lot of the rallies,” Bouzkova said. “I’m just happy that I could get a lot of balls back and fight with everything I have.”

In other matches, McCartney Kessler of the United States pulled off an upset when she downed Poland’s world number 38 Magda Linette in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

The 25-year-old American will now play 15th seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the second round.

Mexico’s Renata Zarazua set up a second round clash against world number one Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova.

Australian Maya Joint beat fellow countrywoman Maddison Inglis 6-3, 6-4, Armenian Elina Avanesyan downed Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 and Russia’s Anna Blinkova was too good for Czech player Sara Bejlek 6-1, 7-6 (7/5).

American Ashlyn Krueger saw off Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 and Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens downed Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-4.

In the men’s draw, Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic sealed a 6-2 6-3 win over former world number seven David Goffin in the only main draw match.

Taking to the court in the evening session after a raft of qualifying matches, Vukic wasted little time getting to work at the Pat Rafter Arena as he powered through the opening set by converting both his break points.

The 28-year-old wildcard then broke again in the eighth game of a tight second set to lay the platform for the victory, which he secured in 82 minutes with a strong hold of serve.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2024