Austria’s Simona Waltert has been made to fight hard to advance to round two at the Workday Canberra International.
She faced Czechia’s Dominika Salkova, the world no. 146. Waltert came from a set down to win 6-7(2), 7-6(0), 6-2 in two hours and 46 minutes.
The Austrian said she was happy to get the win as it was her first match on hard courts since the US Open qualifying where she lost in Q2.
Following some good results on clay, Waltert is now ranked at no. 88.
Salkova, the world no. 142 played a solid match but faded under the hot Australia sun.
After the match Waltert was asked about the match, she said her aim was just to hit the ball inside the white lines.
The Austrian will next face the winner of the match between Marina Stakusic and Darja Vidmanova.
Second seed Moyuka Uchijima from Japan won her opening round match against USA’s Madison Brengle 6-4, 6-4.
Uchujima has been a winner in Canberra back in March 2022 when she won the W60 Clay Court International.
