Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur stepped up her comeback forward of the Australian Open by beating fourth seed Danielle Collins 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 on Tuesday on the Adelaide Worldwide.
The Fortieth-ranked Tunisian wildcard, who final week reached the Brisbane quarterfinals, had a shoulder harm final 12 months that saved her off court docket after August.
Collins, the 2022 Australian Open runner-up who cancelled a retirement scheduled for the tip of 2024, was taking part in her first WTA match since September.
Jabeur faces Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva within the final 16 and mentioned she relied on her forehand to earn victory.
“It saved me so much, this was a very good match for me,” she mentioned.
“After being injured I used to be not anticipating to win many matches, however break day helped me bodily and mentally. I used to be a bit drained from years of tennis.”
Defending champion Jelena Ostapenko wanted a set to get going however kicked up the depth in a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 defeat of Magdalena Frech.
The Seventeenth-ranked Latvian, who received Roland Garros in 2017, will meet Madison Keys within the final 16 on the warm-up match main into the primary main of the 12 months.
American Keys crushed Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, ranked 4 locations above her at 16 on the earth, 6-2, 6-1.
Ostapenko struggled in a scratchy opening set marred by greater than 20 unforced errors in opposition to Poland’s Frech.
“After the primary set I simply fought for each level,” the 27-year-old mentioned. “I discovered my recreation and acquired higher and higher.”
Keys, who married her coach Bjorn Fratangelo in November, broke 4 instances in her rout of Haddad Maia.
“I didn’t do a lot fallacious — and that doesn’t occur fairly often,” she mentioned.
Greek fortunate loser Maria Sakkari, who missed the latter a part of 2024 with a shoulder harm, will subsequent line up in opposition to prime seed Jessica Pegula after defeating Czech Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-3.
“I’m coming again and haven’t had plenty of matches,” the previous quantity three mentioned.
“Each match I play I really feel higher and my recreation is enhancing daily.”