Thu, Jan 18, 2024 page7

• Jabeur, Wozniacki derailed in Australia

  HIT THE BOOKS: Sixteen-year-old Andreeva, who is juggling school with her pro tennis career, devastated three-time major runner-up Jabeur in under an hour

  • AFP, MELBOURNE
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  Sixth seed Ons Jabeur and former champion Caroline Wozniacki yesterday fell victim to exciting young Russians in the Australian Open second round.

  The veteran pair were no match for Mirra Andreeva and Maria Timofeeva, who emphatically stamped their mark on the opening Grand Slam of the year, which was marred by rain on day four.

  However, fourth seeds Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner, along with home hopeful Alex de Minaur and world No. 11 Barbora Krejcikova, had no trouble progressing.

  

  Russia’s Mirra Andreeva serves against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur during their women’s singles match on day four of the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday.

  Photo: AFP

  Andreeva, just 16, was in scintillating form to take down 29-year-old three-time major runner-up Jabeur 6-0, 6-2 under the closed roof on Rod Laver Arena in just 54 minutes.

  “Probably it was the best match,” said Andreeva, a schoolgirl who burst onto the scene when she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year as a qualifier. “The first set, I didn’t expect that I would play this good. Second set was also not bad. So, yes, for me it was an amazing match.”

  Andreeva is pursuing her dream of a tennis career, while still juggling school.

  “I still have to do a lot of school. It actually started two days ago, so I have to do it,” she said, adding: “I don’t like chemistry.”

  At such a young age, Andreeva is restricted by the WTA Tour in the number of tournaments she can play and she said it was too early for the world No. 47 to be thinking about how far she can climb up the rankings.

  “I mean, I’m 16. Why do I have to think about the rankings? I’m going a bit higher, and so my goal is to go higher and higher, maybe for a little bit, but still higher,” she said.

  Timofeeva, a 20-year-old qualifier, was equally impressive against 2018 champion Wozniacki, who flew through the first set and was a break up in the second.

  Undeterred, Timofeeva, showing impressive power, hauled herself back into the contest and ultimately prevailed against a player 13 years her senior, winning 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.

  With play on outside courts starting more than three hours late due to rain, Sinner was one of the fortunate few to be scheduled in one of the three main arenas, which all have roofs.

  The Italian wasted no time in dispatching Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena.

  “Tomorrow I have a day off. I’m trying to practice myself into match rhythm. I’ll also go to the gym ... I’m skinny, but it’s OK,” Sinner told fans after his victory.

  “Of course it’s all muscle,” he added with a laugh. “Unfortunately not, but it’s OK. I’m happy with my physicality at the moment. Of course, it’s a dream to have like the Baywatch physicality, but it’s OK.”

  US Open champion Gauff was equally untroubled in sweeping past fellow American Caroline Dolehide 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, while De Minaur and Krejcikova had easy straight-sets wins.

  Additional reporting by Reuters
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