REIGNING Adelaide International champion Jelena Ostapenko got her title defence off to the perfect start yesterday after winning her opening match of the 2025 edition against Magdalena Frech.

It was a tough three set match, but the Latvian ultimately prevailed 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Although Ostapenko served more aces than Frech, she also served significantly more double faults, to the tune of nine to one. However, despite having a significantly lower first serve percentage (46.3 per cent compared to Frech’s 68.7 per cent), Ostapenko’s first serve points won percentage was significantly higher than her Polish opponent (77.3 per cent compared to 47.4 per cent).

The win was Ostapenko’s first singles win since August, after dealing with an abdominal injury for much of the back end of last year and falling in the first round in Brisbane last week.

“It was a tough match because I was injured for a bit after the US Open, so I didn’t play many singles matches,” said Ostapenko.

“It’s always tough to come [back] after injury but I’m really glad that after the first set I was fighting until the last point.”

Ostapenko now has to face Madison Keys in the next round, who beat Beatriz Haddad Maia in her opening match.

Ostapenko was not the only winner on the injury comeback trail, with Maria Sakkari also picking up a win yesterday. She has been battling a shoulder injury and yesterday’s win over Linda Noskova was her first singles win since July.

The biggest win of the day though was perhaps American youngster Ashlyn Krueger, with the world number 54 defeating world number 18 Marta Kostyuk.

ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL WTA RESULTS: JANUARY 7

O. Jabeur defeated D. Collins (4) 7-6, 6-2

B. Bencic defeated A. Kalinskaya (7) [RET] 6-2, 1-0

A. Krueger defeated M. Kostyuk 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

D. Shnaider (6) defeated K. Siniakova 6-3, 0-6, 6-0

J. Ostapenko (8) defeated M. Frech 4-6, 6-1, 6-1

L. Samsonova defeated M. Bouzkova 1-6, 6-4, 6-1

M. Sakkari defeated L. Noskova 6-3, 6-3

M. Keys defeated B. Haddad Maia 6-2, 6-1