Magda Linette from heaven to hell. The Pole had a major setback
This is not how Magda Linette imagined participating in the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai. The Poznań native stumbled in the first match, losing to Nao Hibino.
Sunday (February 18) noon was bittersweet for Polish tennis fans. The news about our representatives' results in the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai was partially positive. Magdalena Fręch won, but another surprising defeat – looking at the prism of recent months – was recorded by Magda Linette. Remembering that Iga Świątek will start the competition in the second round.
Magda Linette with a defeat in the first round of the WTA 1000 in Dubai
Looking at the WTA ranking, the favorite of Sunday's match was the tennis player from Poznań. Linette was up against a qualifier who had to advance through the qualifying rounds to the main draw of the tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Magdalena Fręch followed a similar path, as you can see, with similarly… good results.
The match involving Linette and Hibino had a lot of drama. The Japanese wanted to take revenge on the Pole for her defeat just a few days ago, at the same tournament stage, only in Doha. Then the tennis player from Poznań won in two sets (6:1, 6:4), and on Sunday the ladies played a three-set match.
Hibino, the 93rd player in the WTA ranking, started with a 6-2 win in the opening game. It is worth noting, however, that the set itself was really tough. With two breaks in favor of the Japanese, Linette tried to find a way to reverse the situation. A lot happened in the sixth game, eventually won by Hibino. However, the ladies fought for 56 minutes. In the second game, the Pole responded, winning 6:3 with two positive breaks and one negative break.
The decisive set began with a break in favor of the Poznań player. After a few Mints it became 1:0 for Linette… 1:4 to the detriment of the Polish tennis player. The Pole started to make up for the losses, defending the match ball and winning the important ninth game (4:5). But what good is it, because after a while Linette gave in and lost 4:6.
Magdalena Fręch and Iga Świątek continue to play
Polish fans will therefore not be able to watch the full set of Polish women in Dubai. Linette lost the match against a lower-ranked opponent, which may have later ranking consequences for the Poznań player.
Fręch and Świątek remain in the game for success in the UAE. The WTA ranking leader will come to Dubai as last year's finalist of the event. The Pole then lost the title match against Barbora Krejcikova.
