World number two Sabalenka, a semi-finalist at last year’s Wimbledon and U.S. Open, struggled with her serve, racking up 18 double faults, and committed 49 unforced errors in the shock loss to the 21-year-old at the Australian Open warm-up event.
Blitzing through to R3 ???? Juvan defeats No.2 seed Sabalenka 7-6[6] 6-1#AdelaideTennis https://t.co/9Q9wJXEwJa
— Adelaide International (@AdelaideTennis) 1641348445000
Juvan won a tight first set after trailing 2-0 and saved a set point at 6-5 in the tiebreak, before racing ahead 3-0 in the second to storm to victory in an hour and a half.
“I really enjoyed the first set. I love when matches get tight, when it’s competitive and when it’s a really tight fight,” Juvan said after sealing her place in the quarter-finals.
Roaring into the quarterfinals ????Kaja Juvan knocks out the No.2 seed Sabalenka 7-6(6), 6-1!#AdelaideTennis https://t.co/HVrU9mBNuz
— wta (@WTA) 1641349175000
“I was feeling a little bit sorry at some points because I … knew she’s not doing the best with the serve and we all know how that feels at one point.
“I know she can do it better, but on the other hand, I was just saying to myself, ‘Focus. Stay here until the end. It can turn at any point.’ I was really just trying to stay there until the very end and really fight.”
World number one Ash Barty will face American Coco Gauff later on Wednesday while Greece’s Maria Sakkari takes on Shelby Rogers in the second round.
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