Jaqueline Cristian (27 years old, 37 WTA) defeated Daria Kasatkina (28 years old, 48 WTA) in Adelaide, where a WTA 500 category tournament is held, and a tough duel awaits her to access the semifinals.
The Romanian went 6-4, 6-0 against Kasatkina, a player who represents Australia, but who is of Russian origin, in an hour and 32 minutes of play.
Jaqueline Cristian’s victory at the Adelaide International was the first of four head-to-head meetings with Daria Kasatkina, an athlete who has condemned Vladimir Putin’s war and is viewed as a traitor in her home country.
The top-ranked Romanian in the world managed 2 aces and took 4 breaks from the Australian, who also made 9 double faults compared to Jaqueline’s only 3.
Cristian, Romania’s top tennis player, now ranked 37th WTA, started the tournament strongly, beating Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, 11th WTA, in the first round.
For a place in the semifinals, the Romanian will face the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (26 years old, 34 WTA).
So far, for qualifying in the “quarters”, Cristian won $33,470 and 108 WTA points.
