No.3 seed Elina Svitolina has powered past Carla Suarez Navarro in a high-quality first-round tussle at the Brisbane International.
The Ukrainian prevailed 6-2, 6-4 on Monday but was made to work by the energetic Spaniard, who for the most part matched Svitolina’s power from the baseline.
Ultimately the world No.6 had the answers, rattling off a series of winners to claim the first set and pouncing on Suarez Navarro’s serve at 5-4 in the second, before completing the first-up victory.
Svitolina had a career-best year in 2017, winning a tour-best five WTA titles to peak at a career-high ranking of No.3.
Chuffed at how well she served in key moments on Monday, Svitolina admitted that climbing to the top of the women’s rankings this year had been on her mind.
“Of course this is the goal, but I don’t want to have this pressure,” she said. “(I just want to) play my best and improve each tournament, each match and be strong mentally – there’s lots of things (I want to achieve), not only being No.1.
“There was some tough moments, was struggling with a few injuries … but I think we’re on the right path.”
Having stormed through qualifying, 2012 Brisbane champion Kaia Kanepi disposed of Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 6-2 and will play the winner of Monday night’s match between Ashleigh Barty and Lesia Tsurenko.
Meanwhile, 2011 champion Petra Kvitova withdrew from the tournament with a viral illness and will be replaced by lucky loser Heather Watson, who takes on Anett Kontaveit on Monday afternoon.
“I’m really disappointed to withdraw from the Brisbane International. Unfortunately I picked up a virus on the flight to Australia and I haven’t been able to get healthy in time to play here,” Kvitova said. “It’s always a fantastic and competitive place to start the year so I’m sorry not to be in the draw.”