Defending champion Elina Svitolina marked her top 10 debut with a 6-2, 6-3 win over qualifier Jang Jeong Su of South Korea in the first round of the ALYA Malaysian Open at TPC Kuala Lumpur today.
Elina, who won in Taipei early this month and in Dubai on Sunday, broke in the sixth game to close the first set. The Ukrainian took a dominating 3-0 lead in the second set by breaking in the second game but the World No 148 Jeong Su bounced back and won the next three games.
However, Elina managed to get a decisive break in the eighth game to seal victory to set up a second round clash against Japanâs Nao Hibino.
âIt was a good match for me. Jeong Su was playing quite good from the baseline. I am just happy that I won my first match here after a long trip from Dubai,â said Elina, who is currently on a 13-match winning streak.
âThere is more pressure being in the top 10 but this is part of tennis. It is quite normal and I need to get used to it.
âI actually prefer to be in the top 10 and have pressure rather than being outside it.
Elina attributed her success of being in the top 10 to working hard in training.
âI am playing solid tennisâŚthis is what I have been working on for a long timeâŚto play solid from the baseline and dominate the court.
âI am pleased that I have been achieving good results and I am happy that it has come at the right moment,â said Elina, who has won six tour titles.
Elinaâs run in the Malaysian Open, however, will depend on whether her left Achilles injury will be able hold up for the remaining matches.
âI struggled a bit with my Achilles in the final in Dubai. I felt some discomfort todayâŚI will see what the medical here say and also assess suggestions from them.
âI will see how it goes and hopefully, I can recover and play my next match,â Elina added.
Elina also praised the hospitality in the ALYA Malaysian Open by stating the organisers are very meticulous in making sure that players are comfortable in all aspects.
In other first round matches, Polandâs Madga Linette edged wild card entry Katarina Zavatska of Ukraine 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 while qualifier Sabina Sharipova of Uzbekistan upset former champion Hsieh Su Wei of Taiwan 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.
In a late first round doubles match yesterday, Japanâs Shuko Aoyama and Chinaâs Yang Zhaoxuan defeated S. Theiviya of Malaysia and Beatrice Gumulya of Indonesia 6-3, 6-4.
