- No 2 seed claims nervy 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-1 win over Zidansek
- Mertens beats Muguruza while Sabalenka eases through
You can’t win a grand-slam title in the first week but you can definitely lose it and for a while on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday, it seemed like Ons Jabeur was about to find that out . But when the Tunisian needed inspiration, she reminded herself of one thing: “I told myself to be the No 2 in the world and just win this match,” she said, with a smile.
The No 2 seed’s 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-1 win over Tamara Zidansek was as tight as the scoreline sounds. She saved three set points in the opening-set tie-break and after dropping the second, it was only once she had got the break for 2-1 in the decider that she found her usual rhythm, pulling away for victory over a tenacious opponent.
Written by Simon Cambers at Melbourne Park
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/17/jabeur-survives-scare-but-muguruza-exits-in-australian-open-first-round under the title “Jabeur survives scare but Muguruza exits in Australian Open first round”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
