In a remarkable feat, 19-year-old American sensation Ashlyn Krueger clinched her first-ever WTA Tour title without dropping a set throughout the tournament. She accomplished this remarkable achievement with a 6-3, 7-6 (6) upset victory over top-seeded Zhu Lin in the final of the Japan Open held in Osaka.
Entering the tournament as the 123rd-ranked player in the world, Krueger defied expectations and displayed her exceptional talent on the court. Prior to this event, she had not secured a main-draw win on a hard court this year and had never advanced beyond the quarterfinals of a WTA event.
Facing China’s Zhu Lin, who was ranked 35th in the world, Krueger rose to the occasion in a contest that marked their first-ever meeting. This victory was only the second time in Krueger’s young career that she defeated a top-50 player.
Krueger’s triumph was characterized by her dominance in various facets of the game. She outperformed Zhu in the ace count, registering seven aces to Zhu’s three. Remarkably, Krueger never had to save a break point throughout the 96-minute match. She broke Zhu’s serve in the opening game of the match and capitalized on her first service game. Krueger’s aggressive style of play, highlighted by 28 winners compared to Zhu’s 13, ultimately secured her victory.
Reflecting on her performance, Krueger noted, “I think I was very aggressive today, playing a lot of really aggressive tennis and using my serve. I think I just stayed mentally tough the whole time. Lots of aggressive shots and trusting in myself.”
Krueger’s victory at the Japan Open marks a significant milestone in her burgeoning career, and it underscores her potential as a rising star in the world of women’s tennis.
Guadalajara Open:
In the Guadalajara Open held in Mexico, all four seeded players in action secured first-round victories.
Twelfth-seeded Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine had a convincing win, losing only two games as she defeated Grace Min of the United States with a score of 6-2, 6-0 in just 61 minutes.
In an all-Belgian matchup, 13th-seeded Elise Mertens faced a tougher challenge, prevailing in a first-set tiebreaker to defeat Yanina Wickmayer with a score of 7-6 (4), 6-2. Mertens showcased her serving prowess, recording eight aces and winning 25 of 35 first-service points.
The 15th-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy had a more challenging second set but ultimately triumphed over Louisa Chirico of the U.S. with a score of 6-0, 7-6 (3).
In the 16th-seed category, Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic emerged victorious by defeating Japan’s Ena Shibahara with a score of 7-5, 6-2.
Additionally, several other players secured first-round wins in straight sets, ensuring a day free of extended matches in Guadalajara. The winners included Sloane Stephens and Taylor Townsend of the U.S., Leylah Fernandez of Canada, Eugenie Bouchard of Canada, Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, Martina Trevisan of Italy, Cristina Bucsa of Spain, and Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.
