MINSK, 19 January (BelTA) – World No.71 Olga Govortsova of Belarus lost to Germany's Tatjana Maria (75) 4-6, 3-6 in the first round of the Australian Open 2016, BelTA informs.
The Belarusian will continue her performance in the doubles event. In the opener she and China's Chia-Jung Chuang will take on 13-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany and Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.
Victoria Azarenka, currently ranked 16th in the WTA rankings, will take to the court later this day to face World No.43 Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium. Victoria Azarenka will make her 11th appearance at the Australian Open. The Belarusian won the title in Melbourne twice: in 2012 and 2013.
World No.105 Alexandra Sasnovich was the first to start out of the three players representing Belarus at the tournament. The 21-year-old Belarusian beat World No.91 Evgeniya Rodina of Russia 6-3, 7-6 in the opener. Alexandra Sasnovich will make her maiden appearance in the Australian Open second round against World No.5 Maria Sharapova of Russia.
In the men's doubles Max Mirnyi and his new partner Treat Huey of the Philippines will take on Alexander Bury of Belarus and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in the opener. Belarus' Sergei Betov paired with Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili will start against the British-Swedish duo of Dominic Inglot and Robert Lindstedt.
The $32 million Australian Open 2016 will finish on 31 January.
