The first main-draw play day of the 2022 WTA season is behind us. “Tennis makes an epic return,” state the organizers of the Adelaide International 1, and the tournament is justifying expectations.
Third seed Maria Sakkari became the WTA’s first main-draw winner of 2022 with a 6-2 0-6 6-4 victory over Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek. After being bageled in the second set, Sakkari built a 3-0 lead in the decider. The world No.30 Zidansek leveled the third set to 3-3, but Sakkari won three of the last four games, including the last eight points, and squeezed into the second round despite not playing her best tennis.