17/02/2015 – Timi and Kristina Mladenovic won in two sets against Darija Jurak and Oksana Kalashnikova in the opening round.
The match lasted one hour and 15 minutes. The 8th seed Hungarian-French duo will meet Fatma Al Nabhani and Mona Barthel in the next round.
DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS (2 513 000 USD, HARD COURT), DOUBLES, 1ST ROUND |
Timea Babos, Kristina Mladenovic (Hungarian, French, 8)-Darija Jurak, Oksana Kalashnikova (Croatian, Georgian) 7:6 (7-2), 6:2 |
The doubles specialist Jurak and Kalashnikova played well in the opening set, they had three times a break advantage (1:0, 4:3, 6:5). In the 12th game they led 40-15, so they had three set points.
But the Croatian-Georgian duo hit two double faults, then Timi and Mladenovic broke them. So came the tie-break.
In the tie-break the Hungarian-French duo won five rally in a row after 2-2!
The second set was much more easier. Timi and Mladenovic broke the opponent twice, they jumped to a 5:1 lead. Then they had three match points as a receiver, but Jurak and Kalashnikova saved all of them. But in the next game Timi won her own service game to 0.
The Hungarian-French duo’s next opponent will be Fatma Al Nabhani and Mona Barthel.
The 23-year-old Omani player is ranked 357th, her career best was 238 (28 April 2014). During her career she won five ITF doubles competition.
The 24-year-old Barthel stands at 108 in the world rankings in this genre, her career-best is 76 (17 March 2014). So far, she has won one WTA- and one ITF doubles competition.