Fręch beats Ružić to set up first-round clash with Ostapenko in Cincinnati
Poland's Magdalena Fręch defeated Croatia's Antonia Ružić 6:2, 7:5 to advance in Cincinnati, where she will next face Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko.
At the WTA tournament in Cincinnati, Poland's third-ranked player Magdalena Fręch, currently world No. 45, defeated Croatia's second-ranked Antonia Ružić, ranked 56th, by a score of 6:2, 7:5 in the first round.
The 28-year-old Polish player entered the match as the favorite, with bookmakers offering odds of 1.45 on her victory. Fręch has previously reached as high as No. 22 in the world rankings, underlining her ability to compete at the top level.
Match statistics
Fręch dominated across several statistical categories. She won 68% of points on her first serve compared to her opponent's 48%, and 52% on her second serve against Ružić's 35%. In total points won, Fręch led 69 to 49. She was also more effective on break points, converting 6 of 12 opportunities, while Ružić managed only 3 of 4.
The gap was also evident in aces and double faults: Fręch hit 7 aces against 2 double faults, while Ružić recorded no aces and 5 double faults.
Next up: Ostapenko
The win sends Fręch through to the next round, where she will face Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko. Their head-to-head record currently favors Ostapenko 2-0, with both previous encounters going the distance to three sets.
