Playing in her first competitive match in 13 months, Ajla Tomljanovic stunned No.6 seed Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets to move into the second round at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Duan Ying-Ying had Thursday’s shot of the day at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open.
No.1 seed Mirjana Lucic-Baroni picked up right where she left off after Australia, battling past Belinda Bencic in straight sets to move into the second round at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Kirsten Flipkens had Thursday’s shot of the day at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Former World No.11 Shahar Peer, 29, officially announced her retirement on Tuesday. Peer retires as the most successful Israeli woman to ever play on the WTA.
“I want to share with you one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in my life,” Peer wrote on Facebook. “After 23 years, in which 13 of those years I was an international professional tennis player, I am retiring 🙂
“I made this decision following a chronic inflammation in my shoulder, that has been lasting for over two years, and prevents me from competing at the high level that I am used to and expect from myself. At the same time, I lost my desire for the game of tennis and the intense way of life I have lived since I was 6.5 years old.
“I look back on this experience with a huge smile, a lot of happiness and satisfaction. I am proud of all of my accomplishments as well as the huge honor I was given to represent the state of Israel.
“I want to thank everyone for your never-ending support that I received every single day, every hour and every place I went to around the world. This Friday, ‘Ulpan Shishi’ on Channel 2 will broadcast a segment about my career, my deliberation about my retirement, and my plans for the future. I promise to continue to update you about every interesting development of Chapter 2 of my life.”
After turning pro in 2004, Peer won five WTA titles and became the first Israeli woman to make the quarterfinals of a Slam, doing it twice in 2007. In 2008, she became the first Israeli ever to compete at a WTA tournament in the Arabian Peninsula at the Qatar Total Open.
In addition to her successful WTA career, Peer was a Fed Cup stalwart for Israel, playing over 75 matches and compiling at 45-31 record. In 2008 she represented Israel at her first and only Olympic Games in Beijing.
Peer had not played a match on tour since the 2016 Abierto Monterrey, where she lost in the opening round of qualifying to Viktorija Golubic.
Watch Kristina Mladenovic and Heather Watson try a few rounds of footgolf in Acapulco!
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Alya WTA Malaysian Open top seed Elina Svitolina claimed her 250th WTA win with a 6-2, 6-3 first-round win over qualifier Su Jeong Jang on Tuesday.
That moment when you win 250th @WTA match ??@alyawtamo pic.twitter.com/CDSr0mFnej
— Elina Svitolina (@ElinaSvitolina) February 28, 2017
The 22-year-old also extended her winning run to 13 matches despite spirited resistance from Jang, who lies 138 places lower in the WTA rankings. The Korean stole a break back in the second set at 3-1, but the reigning champion showed the class that has seen her win back-to-back titles at the Taiwan Open and Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to come through.
Elina Svitolina picks up 250th career WTA win!
Wraps up a 6-2, 6-3 win over Jang Su Jeong! pic.twitter.com/YOJTmnP0It
— WTA (@WTA) February 28, 2017
In the biggest shock of the tournament so far, the promising Russian 18-year-old Anna Kalinskaya defeated No.5 seed Caroline Garcia 7-5, 6-2. The WTA World No.23 became the third seeded player to be dispatched in the first two days in Kuala Lumpur, while Kalinskaya was able to celebrate her first ever main draw victory.
What an upset!
World No.173 Anna Kalinskaya knocks third seed Caroline Garcia out of @alyawtamo 7-5, 6-2! pic.twitter.com/xs9HQRyrhG
— WTA (@WTA) February 28, 2017
“Of course I feel a little bit more confident now,” said Kalinskaya afterwards. “I understand that I can play with the players in the top 50, top 100 and it means a lot to me. For the next match I will prepare and hope I play better than today.”
Kristina Mladenovic has Wednesday’s shot of the day at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Watch Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and Shelby Rogers get expert lessons on how to make authentic guacamole at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco!
Risa Ozaki has Wednesday’s shot of the day at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open.