Main-draw action started today at the Palermo Ladies Open, the first WTA tournament after the five-month coronavirus hiatus, and Donna Vekic became the first winner of the resumed WTA calendar with a confident 6-1 6-2 victory over Arantxa Rus. Our photographer Jimmie48 was there until well after midnight, as Krystina Pliskova and Maria Sakkari closed out the day’s play in an encounter that started at 12:30 a.m.
Sixth seed Donna Vekic definitely didn’t forget how to compete, as she opened the match by winning eight games in a row for a 6-1 2-0 lead and advanced to the second round by breaking Arantxa Rus as many as six times, even though the Dutchwoman fended off seven break points.