The top two seeds effortlessly advanced to the second round of the 26th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge in Dubai on Monday, securing near-identical straight-set victories. In a swift 74-minute match, top-seeded Viktoria Hruncakova defeated Slovenia’s Dalila Hruncakova with a score of 6-4, 6-3, while second seed and 2021 champion Daria Snigur took nearly the same time to triumph over Anastasia Zakharova with a score of 6-2, 6-4.
Third seed Rebecca Sramkova also progressed, leading 6-1, 2-0 against Natalija Stevanovic before the Serbian player retired due to injury. The day’s significant upset came as former World No.12 Sabine Lisicky lost to Uzbekistan’s Nigina Abduraimova with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
Abduraimova expressed her focus on each point against top players and her happiness at advancing to the next round. The 29-year-old will face eighth-seeded Ekaterina Makarova in the next round. Meanwhile, defending champion Daria Snigur was pleased with her early rhythm in the competition, emphasizing her effort to manage pressure.
Other notable results included sixth seed Tereza Martincova’s defeat by Yulia Hatouka, Arianne Hartono’s quick victory over Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove, and qualifiers Kateryna Volodko, Lola Radivojevic, and Isabella Shinikova securing spots in the main draw.
Tuesday’s play is scheduled to begin at 10 am with the remaining Round One matches.
