RUSSIAN teenager Diana Shnaider bounced back from a forgettable second set to knock off top-seeded Pole, Magna Linette in the WTA 250 Thailand Open. The first round matchup was always a danger for Linette – the world number 56 – with the 108th ranked Russian having caused some big upsets in the past.

In what was a see-sawing battle, Shnaider won her first match of the year with the 19-year-old triumphing 6-4 1-6 6-4. It was a remarkable third set considering Linette – after going down a set – completely controlled momentum in the second, only dropping two points off her first serve (87 per cent) while Shnaider struggled with a 43 per cent record, and was broken twice.

Luckily the Russian stepped back up in the third, reversing those statistics by only dropping three points herself off her first serve in the deciding set, while Linette only won 43 per cent. In the end, Shnaider secured the victory in two hours and nine minutes, setting up a huge Round of 16 clash with former world number two, Paula Badosa.

Badosa was far from convincing against Thai wildcard Lanlana Tararudee who shocked the Spaniard by taking the first set 6-3. However the out-of-form Badosa – who has freefallen to number 86 in the world – steadied to find her form gradually and win, 3-6 6-4 6-1.

From an Aussie perspective, qualifier Taylah Preston‘s run came to an end before it had started in the main draw, bowing out to second seed Lin Zhu 6-4 7-5, joining compatriot and wildcard Ajla Tomljanovic in the round one exits. Tomljanovic had a horror match against Hungarian qualifier Dalma Galfi, with Galfi crushing the Aussie after an even start, 6-3 6-0 in an hour and nine minutes.

Over in Austria, it was a great day for the Brits as Katie Boulter continued her fine start to 2024 with a dominant victory over Italian sixth seed Jasmine Paolini, 6-2 6-2. Fellow Brit and qualifier Jodie Burrage also upset a seed, easily downing Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva, 6-4 6-0. In other results, Argentinian Nadia Podoroska‘s forgettable start to the year continued with a straight sets exit to Romanian lucky loser Jaqueline Cristian, while Italian Lucia Bronzetti took out German wildcard, Angelique Kerber in straight sets, 6-1 6-3.

UPPER AUSTRIA LADIES LINZ | WTA 500:

Round of 32:

Katie Boulter (GBR) defeated [6] Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 6-2 6-2
[Q] Jodie Burrage (GBR) defeated [7] Varvara Gracheva (FRA) 6-4 6-0
[Q] Clara Tauson (DEN) defeated Camila Giorgi (ITA) 3-6 6-3 6-3
[LL] Jaqueline Cristian (ROU) defeated Nadia Podoroska (ARG) 6-3 6-4
Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) defeated [WC] Angelique Kerber (GER) 6-1 6-3
Clara Burel (FRA) defeated [WC] Sinja Kraus (AUT) 6-1 6-4
Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) defeated [Q] Lucrezia Stefanini (ITA) 6-2 6-0
[Q] Jule Niemeier (GER) defeated Anna Blinkova (RUS) 6-3 6-4

THAILAND OPEN | WTA 250:

Diana Shnaider (RUS) defeated [1] Magda Linette (POL) 6-4 1-6 6-1
[2] Lin Zhu (CHN) defeated [Q] Taylah Preston (AUS) 6-4 7-5
[3] Xinyu Wang (CHN) defeated Emina Bektas (USA) 5-2 RET
[4] Tatjana Maria (GER) defeated [Q] Arianne Hartono (NED) 6-3 6-1
[5] Xiyu Wang (CHN) defeated Qiang Wang (CHN) 6-1 6-1
Arina Rodionova (AUS) defeated [6] Yue Yuan (CHN) 7-6 4-6 6-3
[7] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) defeated [WC] Thasaporn Naklo (THA) 5-7 6-3 6-2
[8] Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (RUS) defeated [Q] Mai Hontama (JPN) 7-6 7-6
Paula Badosa (ESP) defeated [WC] Lanlana Tararudee (THA) 3-6 6-4 6-1
[Q] Dalma Galfi (HUN) defeated [WC] Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-3 6-0
Nao Hibino (JPN) defeated Kamilla Rakhimova (RUS) 7-6 6-0
Viktorija Golubic (SUI) defeated Laura Pigossi (BRA) 6-1 6-2
Yafan Wang (CHN) defeated Tamara Zidansek (SLO) 6-2 6-2
Zhuoxuan Bai (CHN) defeated [Q] Chloe Paquet (FRA) 7-6 6-3
Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) defeated [LL] Anastsia Tikhonova (RUS) 6-3 6-1

PAIRE BREAKS 18-MONTH DROUGHT

Divisive Frenchman Benoit Paire celebrated his first ATP Tour victory in 18 months with a three-set come-from-behind win over Andy Murray yesterday. Paire, who had not tasted success since August 2022, dug deep against the Grand Slam winner, coming back from a 2-6 deficit to win 2-6 7-6 6-3.

The match included a controversial non-call against Murray frustrating the fifth seed, who decided to infuriate the French crowd by changing his racquet when Paire had three match points, received loud boos as he walked from the court.

It was a huge day for the local hopes with all bar one match featuring a Frenchman. Seventh seed Alexandre Muller was the other seed in action, taking out French compatriot Antonie Escoffier, while in-form Arthur Cazaux made light work of German Maximilian Marterer. Former top 10 talent Denis Shapovalov also picked up an impressive win, defeating Hugo Gaston to set up a huge contest with second seed, Alexander Bublik in the Round of 16.

OPEN SUD DE FRANCE | ATP 250:

Benoit Paire (FRA) defeated [5] Andy Murray (GBR) 2-6 7-6 6-3
[7] Alexandre Muller (FRA) defeated [Q] Antonie Escoffier (FRA) 7-6 6-3
[Q] Pablo Llamas Ruiz (ESP) defeated Richard Gasquet (FRA) 7-6 7-5
Michael Mmoh (USA) defeated Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) 6-3 7-5
Pedro Martinez (ESP) defeated Jaume Munar (ESP) 6-4 7-6
[WC] Harold Mayot (FRA) defeated Lucas Pouille (FRA) 6-4 7-5
Arthur Cazaux (FRA) defeated Maximilian Marterer (GER) 6-1 6-3
Gregoire Barrere (FRA) defeated [Q] Ugo Blanchet (FRA) 6-7 6-4 6-2
Denis Shapovalov (CAN) defeated Hugo Gaston (FRA) 6-1 6-3