By Barbara Galiza
(February 26, 2013) Florianópolis – The young French hope Kristina Mladenovic had to endure a few setbacks before playing her first round match in Florianópolis today. The 19-year-old arrived yesterday in Brazil, after a 24 hour trip and having her luggage lost, but still managed to advance to the second round. Mladenovic beat the British qualifier Anne Keothavong, 6-3, 6-4.
“I arrived yesterday, it was like a 24 hour trip from Memphis to here. So long, it’s one day! (laughter) So I’m really happy to have won today”, said Mladenovic, who captured the doubles title in Memphis, alongside Galina Voskoboeva.
“Yesterday afternoon my luggage didn’t arrive. I was waiting for my bag all night, I couldn’t practice. I came early this morning just to have an hour (hitting session) with my doubles partner (Petra Martic).”
The French player, 58th in the WTA rankings, is the seventh seed on the draw that also features the American Venus Williams. In the second round, Mladenovic faces the German Tatjana Malek.
“I came here with no expectations. I know it’s very hard, I was in indoor hardcourts in Memphis and here it was sort of a shock. I just tried today to be really focused on every shot and find a rhythm.”
Barbara Galiza is a journalist from Rio de Janeiro and is covering the WTA tenis tournament in Florianópolis Brazil as media in for Tennis Panorama. She likes tennis and writing. Sometimes she blogs, most of the time she tweets. – @fiercetennis. Follow her update s on @TennisNewsTPN.