Two qualifiers, Linda Noskova and Claire Liu will lock horns in the round of 16 of the Adelaide International 1 on Thursday.
The teenager from the Czech Republic has got his season off to a great start. She defeated Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova in the qualifiers to get into the main draw. Against Kalinskaya, Noskova dropped the first set but returned with a bang to win the match 3-6, 6-2, 7-6. In the next match against Potapova, Noskova played almost a perfect game and won the match 6-3, 6-2.
After making the main draw, Noskova squared off against third seed Daria Kasatkina in the round of 32. She made her intentions clear early in the first set and took the set 6-3. The world No. 8 took the second set by the barest of margins. With all to play for in the third set, it was Noskova who came up trumps and won the match 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3.
The 22-year-old defeated Magdalena Frech in the first qualifying encounter of the tournament. In the second match, she faced doubles No. 1 Katerina Siniakova. The youngster from the Czech Republic bageled Liu in the first set and it seemed that the latter’s campaign would end. However, Liu upped the ante in the second and third sets and won both of them convincingly for a 0-6, 6-3, 6-1 win.
In the round of 32, the American talent took on Australia’s Priscilla Hon. After losing the first set, Liu once again fought back and registered a fantastic 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win to storm into the second round.
Claire Liu and Linda Noskova have not crossed paths as yet. Therefore, the head-to-head scoreline currently stands at 0-0.
Prediction: Linda Noskova to win in three sets.
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