The experienced tennis player fought a close match with her opponent—with a disappointing outcome.
She fought hard, but once again came up empty-handed: Tatjana Maria missed out on success in Dubai. The 38-year-old tennis player from Bad Saulgau lost to Australia’s Kimberly Birrell 4-6, 6-3, 5-7 on Sunday in her first-round match in the United Arab Emirates after 2 hours and 48 minutes of play. Maria went into the match with only two wins this season, in Hobart and Manila. Against Birrell, who was born in Düsseldorf, she fought back in the third set after conceding a break and showed a lot of heart, but ultimately missed out on victory.
The world number 100, who overcame a tricky phase in the second set, will now face Jaqueline Cristian from Romania or Canadian shooting star Victoria Mboko.
Another German player, Wimbledon quarterfinalist Laura Siegemund (Metzingen), is in the main draw of the WTA tournament.