The fifth-ranked player from Ukraine left no chances for her opponent from the top 70 of the world rankings.
Yulia Starodubtseva, ranked fifth in the national standings and 89th in the world, had a victorious start at the WTA 500 tournament in Charleston, USA. In the first round of the main draw, the Ukrainian delivered a true masterclass against former world number one in doubles, Zhang Shuai from China.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the match result.
Also read: Surpassing the Italian and striving for the top: Svitolina stunned with her new ranking status.
WTA 500. Charleston. 1/32 finals
Yulia Starodubtseva (Ukraine) – Zhang Shuai (China) – 6:3, 6:0
Triumph in 53 minutes
Starodubtseva (WTA 89) approached the match as the underdog against the experienced Zhang Shuai (WTA 62), but only one athlete dominated the court. Yulia took the first set 6:3 and delivered a “bagel” to her opponent in the second set, winning 6:0.
The match lasted less than an hour. During this time, the Ukrainian showcased ironclad composure: she served three aces and did not lose a single service game. This performance allowed Yulia to advance to the 1/16 finals in her debut appearance at this tournament.
What’s next
In the second round, Starodubtseva faces a tough challenge. On Wednesday, April 1, she will meet the tournament’s second seed – the “neutral” Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova (WTA 13). The two players have never faced each other on the court before.
In addition to Starodubtseva, Dayana Yastremska continues her campaign in Charleston, where she will face Swiss player Belinda Bencic in the second round. Also, Oleksandra Oleinikova will begin her journey in a match against Polina Kudermetova, representing Uzbekistan.
Earlier, we reported how Angelina Kalinina lost her title in Croatia after a streak of 14 consecutive victories.
