Ostapenko Battles Past Udvardy in Three Sets to Reach Eastbourne WTA 250 Quarterfinals
Latvia's top tennis player Alona Ostapenko defeated Hungary's Panna Udvardy 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of the WTA 250 tournament in Eastbourne on Wednesday, advancing to the quarterfinals.
Alona Ostapenko, ranked 35th in the WTA and seeded third in the tournament, reached the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 event in Eastbourne on Wednesday. In the second round, the Latvian overcame Hungary's Panna Udvardy, ranked 71st, with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. It was the first meeting between the two players on court.
After losing the first set 3-6, Ostapenko dominated the next two sets, winning 6-1 and 6-2. With this victory, she earned 54 WTA ranking points.
In the quarterfinals, Ostapenko will face either Turkey's Zeynep Sönmez (WTA 54) or Czech player Sara Bejlek (WTA 45). This season, the Latvian has recorded 18 wins in 31 matches.
Ostapenko had previously defeated Britain's Francesca Jones 6-2, 6-2 in the first round. Udvardy, meanwhile, advanced to the second round after her opponent Anna Bondar retired while Udvardy was leading 7-6(4), 3-2. Udvardy reached the final in Bogotá and the semifinals in Rabat earlier this year, both on clay.
Ostapenko has a strong history at Eastbourne: she won the title in 2021 and reached the final in 2022, but lost in the round of 16 last year. This is her tenth appearance at the tournament.
Additionally, Ostapenko is competing in doubles with American Sofia Kenin. The duo, seeded third, advanced to the second round on Tuesday. The tournament concludes on Saturday.
