Magda Linette successfully started her competition in the WTA 1000 tournament in Doha. In the opening match, the Pole defeated Nao Hibino 6:1, 6:4 and entered the next phase. In it, she will face the finalist of the Australian Open.
Seweryn Czernek
February 12, 2024, 16:02
Getty Images / Christopher Pike / In the photo: Magda Linette Last week, Magda Linette took part in the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi. She was eliminated there in the second round, following a three-set battle with Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia. Now she has moved to Qatar, where on Monday she started competing in the WTA 1000 tournament in Doha.
In the first round, the Pole faced the Japanese Nao Hibino. The ladies have met eight times so far, and the winning record is 4:4. Their last clash was in 2021 in Strasbourg, where Linette won 6:2, 6:0.
The beginning of the match was even. Both players confidently won the games on their own serve, but only until the score was 1:1. After keeping her serve, the Pole managed to take advantage of the first break point to go up 4:1.
WATCH THE VIDEO: Hurkacz’s rival will get married. Beloved said “yes”
In the sixth game, Linette quickly went up 40-0 and had three break points. The Japanese defended herself for a long time, but she capitulated on the fourth chance of our tennis player, who increased her advantage and was one step away from leading the match. The game ended with a close battle, in which both players scored a total of 24 points. The Pole turned out to be better, defending three break opportunities in Hibino’s favor and using the sixth set point to win 6-1.
The second installment was full of emotions from the beginning. After keeping the pass, Hibino had four chances to break, but she did not use any of them. There were no such problems on the side of our player, who gained 2:1 thanks to the break. Unfortunately, the Japanese responded with a quick counterattack and equalized the score.
In the sixth game, the Japanese player might have had her second break in a row, but she wasted two break points. After a while, she lost her serve, and the Pole took advantage of the first opportunity to go up 4:3. The later held pass put our tennis player in the position to win.
Although Hibino defended her serve in the ninth game, she was unable to equalize despite four chances. Linette used the fifth match ball, won the game 6:4 and entered the next phase of the competition.
In the second round of the tournament in Doha, Linette will face the tournament’s top five, Qinwen Zheng. For the Chinese, this will be the first tournament since the Australian Open, where she reached the final and achieved the greatest success in her career.
Qatar TotalEnergies OpenDoha (Qatar)
WTA 1000, hard court, prize pool of $3.211 million
Monday, February 12
1st round of singles play:
Magda Linette (Poland) – Nao Hibino (Japan, Q) 6:1, 6:4
See also:
Daniel Michalski might afford little
Hubert Hurkacz did not take advantage of the opportunity. Here is the latest ranking
