American CiCi Bellis and Japan’s Naomi Osaka won their qualifying matches to book their spots in the main draw of the Qatar Total Open yesterday.
World No.48 Bellis scored a 6-1, 6-3 victory over fellow 18-year-old Sofya Zhuk, dispatching the 2015 junior Wimbledon champion in just 55 minutes.
Osaka, meanwhile, also dropped just four games in a 6-3, 6-1 win over No.16 seed Danka Kovinic.
Marketa Vondrousova and Anna Blinkova ensured that two more teenagers would join Bellis in the main draw.
Vondrousova of the Czech Republic cruised past Kristina Kucova 6-2, 6-1, while Russia’s Blinkova advanced when Ekaterina Alexandrova retired with her younger compatriot leading, 6-2, 4-2.
Bernarda Pera also reached the main draw, dropping just three games to beat fellow American Christina McHale, 6-3, 6-0.
Kateryna Bondarenko, Duan Ying-ying and Monica Niculescu also sealed their spots. Duan’s victory was the most dramatic of the day, as she edged 2011 champion and former World No.2 Vera Zvonareva in nearly three hours, 7-6(7), 6-7(5), 6-3.
Bondarenkoa defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-3, while Niculescu will face Maria Sharapova in the first round today, after the Romanian rolled past Andrea Petkovic, 6-4, 6-1.
In the first round matches, Bellis will face Daria Kasatkina while Blinkova will take on compatriot Elena Vesnina. Osaka will be up against Katerina Siniakova, while Duan will open play on Court 1 against wildcard Ons Jabeur.
Qualifying results
Naomi Osaka (JPN) bt Danka Kovinic (MNE) 6-3, 6-1; Bernarda Pera (USA) bt Christina Mchale (USA) 6-3, 6-0; Anna Blinkova (RUS) bt Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) 6-2, 4-2; Catherine Bellis (USA) bt Sofya Zhuk (RUS) 6-1, 6-3; Monica Niculescu (ROU) bt Andrea Petkovic (GER) 6-4, 6-1; Ying-Ying Duan (CHN) bt Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 7-6(7), 6-7(5), 6-3; Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) bt Kristina Kucova (SVK) 6-1, 6-2; Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) bt Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 6-4, 6-3
World No.48 CiCi Bellis of the US scored a 6-1, 6-3 victory over fellow 18-year-old Sofya Zhuk of Russia yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
