ZIMBABWE’S leading female professional tennis player Cara Black and her Australian partner Anastasia Rodionova progressed to the next round of women’s doubles at the Qatar Open after winning their first round match yesterday.
SPORTS REPORTER
According to reports from Doha, Black and her partner were on top of their game, easily dispatching wildcard entries Fatma Al-Nabhani from Oman and Germany’s Kathrin 6-2, 6-4 in straight sets.
The pair was expected to meet the winner between the Czech Republic pair of Andrea Hlavackova and Luci Safarova and Belarus’ Olga Govortsova and Slovenia’s Andreja Klepac, who were scheduled to play yesterday.
The Czech pair of Hlavackova and Safarova, seeded seventh in the tournament, were outright favourites to progress to the next stage and book a date with Black and Rodionova.
Yesterday’s win came as a major boost for Black, who on Monday lost 6-2 6-2 to Ekaterina Bychkova in the first round of the women’s singles at the same tournament.
The 33-year-old Black, largely known for her prowess in the doubles, is making a comeback in the Women’s Tennis Association tour this year after spending more than a year out.
The Harare-born star stole the limelight early this year after making a winning comeback when she and Rodionova won the ASB Classic in Auckland, Australia.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The pair later competed at the Australian Open where they were knocked out in the third round.
