Bia Haddad kicks off Australian Open with victory

Brazilian Bia Haddad, the country’s number one tennis player, spent three years out of the race for Grand Slam’s main bracket, but returned with a win. On Tuesday morning (Jan. 18), she defeated US Katie Volynets 2 sets to 1 (with games scoring 3/6, 6/2, 6/3) on the opening of the Australian Open, in Melbourne. She is to have a tough encounter in the coming fixture, with Romanian Simona Halep, the world’s former number one, currently 15th position on the WTA’s world ranking. The duel will be held Wednesday (19).

“It’ll be a tough match against a high-level player, who is seeking to get back to her prime, just as I am. I want to meet all my goals, and for that I want to be part of these great games, in great courts, against great players,” Hadded declared in a statement sent by her press office.

In addition to the simple bracket, Bia Haddad is also on the doubles list, next to Kazakhstani Anna Danilina. The two have their first match at 1:35 am Wednesday (19), against Hungarian Anna Bondar and Georgian Oksana Kalashnikova.