After Gabriela Ruse eliminated an important seed, namely Dayana Yamstremska from Ukraine, it was the turn of two other players with favorite status to exit the competition early in Antipodes.
Three seeded tennis players were eliminated in the first round at the Australian Open, and the most significant so far, and more surprising, is the elimination of Ekaterina Alexandrova, Russia, 11th WTA. She lost in three sets to Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez (112th WTA), with a score of 5-7, 6-4, 4-6. This became the first player from Turkey to advance to the 2nd round at AO in history.
In addition to Yastremska and Alexandrova, another bombshell was the elimination of Marta Kostyk, Ukraine, 20th WTA, who had just made a big final in Brisbane, lost to WTA world leader Aryna Sabalenka at that time.
In Melbourne, Marta was defeated by Elsa Jaquemot (58th WTA), a debutant in the main draw at the "Happy Open," after a match rarely seen, ending in 3 consecutive tiebreaks, with a score of 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 6-7 (7).
Returning to Alexandrova, she seemed to be heading for victory in the deciding set when she led 3-0 on the scoreboard, but Sonmez made an admirable comeback, winning after two hours and 37 minutes of battle.
For Sonmez, this was only the second victory of her career against a top 20 WTA player, after the one achieved against Clara Tauson in Beijing last year. To secure a spot in the 3rd round at the Australian Open, Sonmez will face the winner of the match between Anna Bondar and Elizabeth Mandlik.