Victoria Azarenka started her performance on the lawn of Den Bosch (WTA 250). The former leader of the standings had a tough time with Serbian qualifier Natalija Stevanović. Lyudmila Samsonowa and Lena Papadakis fought an incredible battle.

The Den Bosch tournament started on Monday. One of its stars is Wiktoria Azarenka (WTA 19), the winner of the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open. The former ranking leader did not avoid trouble in the first round. She saved five set points at 5-6 and beat Natalija Stevanović (WTA 231) 7-6(5), 6-3.

The meeting lasted two hours. Azarenka saved six of seven break points and converted two of five break points. Her next rival will be the Swedish Rebecca Peterson or the American Ashlyn Krueger.

Lyudmila Samsonova (WTA 15) defeated Lena Papadakis (WTA 348) 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(3). The Russian tennis player lost a 4-1 lead in the second set tie-break. In the third set, after eight games, she was down 3:5, but she recovered and this time the tie break was hers. The match lasted three hours and 40 minutes. Samsonowa canceled 12 of his 14 break points and converted three of his nine break points.

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Top seed Weronika Kudermetowa (WTA 14) led 6-3, 3-0 when Alison Riske-Amritraj (WTA 137) retired. Both tennis players reached a Grand Slam quarter-final each. The Russian recorded such a result at Roland Garros 2022, and the American at Wimbledon 2019. Riske at Den Bosch won the title in 2019.

Carol Zhao (WTA 163) defeated Ysaline Bonaventure (WTA 92) 7-6(3), 7-6(4). In the first set, the Belgian got a break at 5:4, but in the end the serve missed her. She lost a 4-2 lead in the second set. In the second tie-break of 3-1, she lost six of her next seven points.

Libema Open, Den Bosch (Netherlands)
WTA 250, grass pitch, prize pool 259.3 thousand. dollar
monday june 12

1st singles round:

Veronica Kudermetowa (1) – Alison Riske-Amritraj (USA) 6-3, 3-0 and a shout
Lyudmila Samsonova (2) vs. Lena Papadakis (Germany, Q) 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(3)
Victoria Azarenka (3) vs. Natalija Stevanovic (Serbia, Q) 7-6(5), 6-3
Greet Minnen (Belgium) – Jessika Ponchet (France) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
Carol Zhao (Canada, Q) v Ysaline Bonaventure (Belgium) 7:6(3), 7:6(4)
Emina Bektas (USA, Q) v Dalma Galfi (Hungary) 7-5, 7-6(1)

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