(2023) Top women all through on tropical first day

It has been a successful start to Libéma Open for the three tournament favourites in the women’s singles. Veronika Kudermetova (1), Liudmila Samsonova (2) and Victoria Azarenka (3) all reached the second round.
Kudermetova did not even reach match point in her match against Alison Riske-Amritraj. The 2019 tournament winner was trailing 6-3, 3-0 when she could not continue playing due to a knee injury. Kudermetova will play qualifier Carol Zhao in the second round. The Canadian was too strong for Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium in two tiebreaks: 7-6(3) 7-6(4).
Samsonova, a strong grass player with a major WTA title in Berlin under her belt, beat qualifier Lena Papadakis of Germany 7-5 7-5. In the second round, the world number 15 will play Yue Yuan of China or the younger sister of top seed Kudermetova, Polina.

Azarenka returned to ‘s-Hertogenbosch for the first time since 2007 and settled with qualifier Natalija Stevanovic of Serbia: 7-6(5) 6-3. The former world number one celebrated the victory with her son Leo on court. Azarenka will not know who her next opponent will be until Tuesday: Rebecca Peterson or Ashlyn Krueger.