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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, January 6, 2021

 
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Ons Jabeur shared her Top 10 aspirations and familiar dedication defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6, 6-3 in her Abu Dhabi WTA Women's Tennis Open opener.

Photo credit: Getty

Ons Jabeur arrived in Abu Dhabi with Top 10 aspirations for 2021.

The top-ranked Tunisian exuded determination earning a season-opening win.

More: WTA Announces 2021 Calendar Through Wimbledon

Jabeur saved two set points in stirring style in the 10th game sparking a 7-6(3), 6-3 comeback win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to reach the second round of the Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open.

In a clash of 2020 Australian Open quarterfinalists, Jabeur dispensed an unsettling mix of drives down the line and angled finesse to positive effect. Jabeur hit 25 more winners than the powerful Russian—31 to 5—and saved seven of nine break points.



Empowered by her breakout 2020 season, Jabeur has lofty goals for 2021 including claiming her first Tour-level title and attaining a spot in the Top 10.

"I want to be in the Top 10,” Jabeur said. "I know I have the level, I can be in this ranking. For me, I set up my goals like this, and I know that I can achieve them. I know that I’ve put in the hard work to have these titles, to be able to win more and more, so let’s see."

Starting the new year ranked a career-high No. 31, Jabeur erased set points at 15-40, 4-5 in the opening set. A bold backhand down the line denied the first set point. On the second, Jabeur repelled a series of heavy crosscourt forehands from the Russian before ripping a running forehand winner down the line to draw even at deuce.

Lifting her level in the tiebreaker, Jabeur was controlling the center of the court. The 26-year-old Tunisian carved out a backhand drop shot to take the opening set.

Playing for her 350th career win, Pavlyuchenkova double-faulted away the break and a 2-0 second-set lead.

The first Arab woman to reach a major quarterfinal denied deuce pressure backing up the break in the third game. Jabeur stamped her third love hold of the day for 4-1 then scored her third break for 5-1.

Still, Pavlyuchenkova pushed back earning triple break point to get back on serve in the ninth game.

Staring down love-40, Jabeur again flicked a drop shot winner then found the sideline with a forehand to deny the first two break points. Firing her fourth ace brought Jabeur a match point. The No. 15 seed dotted the baseline with a drive to close in one hour, 29 minutes.

Russian Veronika Kudermetova continued her mastery of 10th-seeded Anett Kontaveit winning eight of the last nine games in a 7-5, 6-1 conquest.

It was Kudermetova’s third win over the 23rd-ranked Estonian in as many meetings. Kontaveit lost to a player ranked outside the Top 30 for the fourth consecutive tournament.

Tennis Express

Daria Kasatkina joins 46th-ranked compatriot Kudermetova in round two.

The 72nd-ranked Kasatkina reeled off the final six games in a row stopping world No. 34 Wang Qiang 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Earlier, a couple of seeds scored straight-sets wins.

Ninth-seeded Maria Sakkari smacked seven aces, denied all four break points she faced and won 27 of 30 first-serve points topping Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 6-2.

The 25-year-old Greek baseliner will face either American teenager Coco Gauff or Norway’s Ulrikke Elkeri next. Sakkari swept Gauff, 6-1, 6-3, in the Western & Southern Open first round played in the Flushing Meadows bubble last August.



No. 13-seeded Yulia Putintseva erased all five break points she faced defeating Italian Martina Trevisan 6-3, 6-3. Putintseva will play either Czech Barbora Krejcikova or Ossining, New York native Jamie Loeb in round two. 

Veteran Kirsten Flipkens deployed her variety shrewdly beating 2020 US Open doubles champion Laura Siegemund 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.


 

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