Both Kontaveit and Kanepi through to the second round of WTA Tallinn Open

Text Mark Taylor
Photos Tallinn Open WTA 250 / Mauri Levandi

Estonian players Anett Kontaveit and Kaia Kanepi both won their opening round matches at the WTA 250 Tallinn Open. However, both had to overcome losing the first set to win their matches in 3 sets. 

On Tuesday evening Estonian number 1 and (WTA Nr 4) Anett Kontaveit took on Xiyu Wang (WTA Nr 58) of China, in the opening round of 32 of the WTA Tallinn Open – the first WTA Tour tennis tournament ever to take place in Estonia. 

Wang started the game well, breaking Kontaveit three times on her way to winning the first set 6:3. Kontaveit broke Wang in the first service game of the second set. She went on to break the Chinese player a second time to win the set 6:2. 

The third set started in very much the same way, with the Estonian player in firm control and seemingly on her way to a quick and easy final set, racing to a quick 5:1 lead. However, Wang fought back to bring the match back to 5:5. Luckily for the home fans, Kontaveit kept her cool to break Wang’s serve and then hold her own to win the final set 7:5.

Estonian Nr 2 Kaia Kanepi (WTA 32) had on paper a much tougher opening round game, being pitted against Latvian player Jelena Ostapenko (WTA 17).  

Kanepi got off to a great start leading 4:2, however, she lost the four games in a row to lose the opening set 6:4. The Estonian player again went racing into the lead in the second set breaking Ostapenko three times on the way to a 5:0 lead. Just like in the first set, the Latvian player one four games in a row to bring the set back to 5:4. However, Kanepi held her serve to win the second set 6:4.

The third set was not like the previous two as the experienced Estonian player took complete control not dropping a single game to win the set 6:3.

Both Kontaveit and Kanepi will play their second-round matches this afternoon. With Kanepi taking on Ann Li (WTA Nr 62) of the USA and Kontaveit taking on Tereza Martincova (WTA Nr 75) of the Czech Republic.

Tickets for the tournament, whech will continue until Sunday October 2^nd are still available on the Piletiasku ticketing portal here. 

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Anett Kontaveit Kaia Kanepi Tallinn Tennis Tennis Tournament WTA Tallinn WTA Tallinn Open