MINSK, 5 January (BelTA) – Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus has advanced to the round of Last 16 at Melbourne, Australia, BelTA has learned.
In the opening match Belarus' world number 107 proved stronger over China's world number 101 Wang Xinyu, 6-4, 6-2. The match lasted for one hour and 17 minutes. In the round of Last 16 Aliaksandra Sasnovich will take on Sweden's world number 88 Rebecca Peterson. The Belarusian made it into the main draw after solving Australia's world number 522 Olivia Tjandramulia, 6-2, 6-3 and Ukraine's world number 118 Lesia Tsurenko, 7-5, 6-1. In the doubles opener Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova will face the Russian-Slovakian tandem Vera Zvonareva and Viktoria Kuzmova. The Belarusian-U.S. duo Lidziya Marozava and Kaitlyn Christian have already advanced to the quarterfinal, seeing off Sabrina Santamaria of the United States and Japan's Miyu Kato 4-6, 6-3, 11-9. Lidziya Marozava and Kaitlyn Christian will play the Italian duo Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini for a spot in the semifinal.
At Adelaide International 1 Belarus' world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka lost to Slovenia's world number 100 Kaja Juvan, 6-7 (6-8), 1-6, in the opener. Former world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, currently ranked 27, defeated Spain's world number 8 Paula Badosa, 6-3, 6-2, in the round of Last 32. Victoria Azarenka will face Australia's world number 263 Priscilla Hon for a spot in the quarterfinal.
Belarus' world number 113 Egor Gerasimov has progressed into the Adelaide International 1 round of Last 16 after securing a solid win over Hungary's world number 40 Marton Fucsovics, 6-3, 6-4. Egor Gerasimov will next challenge Italy's world number 62 Gianluca Mager. The Belarusian reached the event's main draw defeating Australia's Henry Lamchinniah, 6-0, 6-1 and Moldova's world number 123 Radu Albot, 6-3, 0-6, 6-2 in the qualifying.
All these events are rehearsals ahead of the Grand Slam's first tournament of the season Australian Open which is due on the courts of Melbourne Park on 17-30 January.
