While Selena Janicijevic was able to erase a set back to dominate Océane Dodin in the first round of the WTA tournament in Strasbourg, Amandine Hesse was unable to confirm her good start to the match and lost to Anna Blinkova.
Selena Janicijevic is full of confidence before Roland-Garros. Holder of an invitation for the French Open, the 189th player in the world began her career in Strasbourg with a success against Océane Dodin. After seeing her first break erased by her compatriot, the latter was able to finish the first set in a cannonball, winning four games in a row to take the lead. An ascendancy that the 99th in the world could have confirmed from the start of the second set but the two missed break points will remain a turning point. Winning no less than five consecutive games, Selena Janicijevic was able to relaunch herself in this meeting by equalizing at one set everywhere. The last set began with an exchange of breaks with a status quo which ended up disappearing at the end of the fifth game. Indeed, it was at this moment that the 189th player in the world made Océane Dodin give in. A break which was then never questioned. Patient, Selena Janicijevic waited to serve to win the match in order to conclude at the first opportunity (2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in 1h57 ‘). Varvara Gracheva, seeded number 6, will be his opponent in the round of 16.
The two French women gave us a great battle on Center Court 🤩#SelenaJanicijevic wins this 3rd set and wins against Océane Dodin 💪 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
📸: Christoph de Barry / Who is Maurice?@regiongrandest pic.twitter.com/dT183yh2aT
— Strasbourg International (@WTA_Strasbourg) May 21, 2023
Hesse eventually gave in against Blinkova
Amandine Hesse, meanwhile, sees her journey come to an end as soon as she enters the running. The 707th player in the world lost in three sets against Anna Blinkova. However, the Habs had not missed their start to the match. After resisting the Russian’s force in the middle of the first round, erasing the barely conceded break twice in a row, Amandine Hesse turned the set in her favor at the very last moment, while Anna Blinkova was at the service to maintain the suspense. The second set point was good for the Frenchwoman, who then completely left the game. Faced with an opponent who has regained momentum, Amandine Hesse saw the games go by. Indeed, the 73rd player in the world converted three of her six break points and did not crack when the Habs had an opportunity to take her serve. The result was a one-sided second set allowing Anna Blinkova to come back to life. On her way, the Russian broke the French from the first game of the last round. If the latter was able to pick up two games everywhere, she gave in again in stride. From there, the games went by and it was on a white won service that Anna Blinkova put an end to the suspense (4-6, 6-0, 6-4 in 2h10 ‘). No. 3 seed Shuai Zhang or Anna-Lena Friedsam will be on her way to a quarter-final berth.
