Serbian tennis player Mia Ristić secured a 6:3, 6:2 victory over Darya Astakhova in the first round of qualifications for the Antalya Challenger. Her path to the main draw now requires her to overcome another Russian opponent in this significant tournament.
Ristić completed the match in an hour and 50 minutes, a duration that suggests the encounter was far more challenging than the final scoreline indicates.
The opening set proved pivotal. Ristić initially held a break advantage, then found herself a break down, before ultimately prevailing in a set marked by numerous service breaks from both sides, securing the early lead.
Building on her momentum, she immediately secured a break at the outset of the second set. Once she consolidated that advantage through the fourth game, Ristić confidently pushed forward to seal her victory.
To reach the main draw, Ristić is slated to face Alevtina Ibragimova, another Russian competitor.
Ristić enters the second qualifying round as the favourite, mirroring her status in the previous match. She holds a significant ranking advantage, positioned nearly 50 spots higher than her upcoming opponent.
The 19-year-old Serbian currently sits at world No. 274 on the WTA rankings, having not yet broken into the top 250. This tournament in Turkey could very well be her opportunity to achieve that milestone.
(Telegraf.rs)