Ostapenko Falls to Stakusic in Thrilling WTA 500 Guadalajara Second Round
Guadalajara, Mexico – Latvian tennis star Alona ostapenko suffered a hard-fought defeat against Canada’s Marina Stakusic in the second round of the WTA 500 Tournament in Guadalajara on Friday.Ranked 24th in the world, Ostapenko lost to the world number 155, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, in a match marked by momentum swings adn ultimately decided by Stakusic’s resilience.
The match began with Stakusic securing the only break point of the first set in the tenth game, giving her a 1-0 lead in sets. The Canadian continued her strong start in the second, quickly building a 3-0 advantage on her own serve.
However, Ostapenko, known for her aggressive playing style, battled back, breaking her opponent in the fifth game and leveling the score at 3-3. A tense exchange of service games followed, culminating in a tiebreak. Stakusic initially surged ahead with a 5-2 lead in the tiebreak, but Ostapenko demonstrated her fighting spirit, winning the next four points to force a 6-6 tie. Ultimately, Stakusic prevailed in the tiebreak 8-6, sending the match to a deciding third set.
The third set saw Stakusic seize control early, racing to a 4-0 lead. Both players then held serve for the remainder of the set, with Stakusic closing out the match in the eighth game, converting her second of three match points.
Despite the loss,Ostapenko secured 60 WTA ranking points for her performance in mexico.
The match was originally scheduled for Friday night local time but was delayed due to earlier rain disruptions. This was the second meeting between the two players, following Ostapenko’s semi-final victory in Guadalajara last year (6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-0)).
Stakusic earned her place in the main draw through the qualifying rounds, defeating France’s Amandine Hesse (7-5, 7-5) and Belarus’ Irina Shimanovich (4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)) along the way. She will now advance to the next round, looking to continue her extraordinary run in the tournament.
Key Takeaways:
* Upset Victory: Marina Stakusic, ranked 155th, defeated world number 24 Alona Ostapenko.
* Competitive Match: The match featured significant momentum shifts and a thrilling tiebreak.
* Stakusic’s Run: Stakusic qualified for the main draw and continues to impress with her strong performance.
