Irina Begu returns to Madrid with victory, Jaqueline Cristian qualifies on the board, and Ana Bogdan loses a marathon match with Wang

Returning to the circuit a few weeks ago, after a seven-month absence, Irina Begu is enjoying a very good win in what was her first WTA-level match of the season. Irina defeated Linda Fruhvirtova in the first round in Madrid, 6-4, 7-6.

Currently ranked 128th, Irina entered the main draw in Madrid thanks to the protected ranking. Madrid is only the second tournament that Irina plays in 2024, after the tournament in Antalya (WTA 125K), where she played the final. Irina’s comeback therefore starts on an optimistic note: although she had a long break due to injuries, without any official match from August 2023 onwards, Irina’s tennis is starting to look good. Irina is gradually regaining her intensity and confidence in her strokes, her serve is getting closer to normal, and her movement is improving from match to match.

The game with Fruhvirtova was a very balanced one, in which a lot of work was done for almost every game. In fact, both players played in sets: the Czech led 4-3 (break) in the first set, but Irina came back strong and won the next three games. In the second set, Irina led 4-0, then was tied and led 6-5.

When it was necessary and it was necessary to accelerate, Irina made the difference quite easily, which, again, is encouraging given that Irina really comes from a long way. Without standing matches, an important thing in her case, without much confidence, Irina completed a complicated match, in front of a tenacious opponent.

Her next opponent will be Madison Keys, the 18th seed of the tournament. The two will meet for the second time in their careers, the first match taking place in 2016, in Miami, being won in two sets by Keys.

Another welcome news from Madrid is the main draw qualification of Jaqueline Cristian. Jaqueline will be present in the main draw after two very good wins against McCartney Kesller (7-6, 6-4) and Daria Saville (6-4, 2-6, 6-2). In the main draw, Jaqueline will face Magdalena Frech in the first round.

Instead, Ana Bogdan was eliminated in the first round, after another marathon match, which ended after more than three hours of play. Ana was defeated by the 52nd ranked Xiyu Wang (6-7, 7-6, 6-2). Ana had an amazing comeback in the first set when she came back from 1-5 down to take the set to tiebreak and then won, also managing to come back from 3-5 down in the tiebreak.

In the second set, Ana again came back from 1-3 to 4-3 and even had a match point at 5-4. A small error, some well-placed serves from the Chinese and a few more inspired shots allowed Wang to run away with the second set and then take complete control of the match, dominating the bottom line and serving flawlessly. It was Wang’s third win in as many meetings with Ana.

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