After a disappointing loss at the Australian Open, Magda Linette bounced back with a thrilling 6:4, 7:6 (8-6) victory over Renata Zarazua in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi. This marks her first win since partnering with Agnieszka Radwańska, a former world No. 2, who joined Linette’s coaching team in late 2024.
Linette, currently ranked 38th in the WTA rankings, acknowledged that her Australian Open performance was subpar, stating that she was „ashamed” of her gameplay. However, with Radwańska’s guidance, Linette is working to overcome her inner „demons” and play more aggressively.
The 33-year-old Ukrainian-born Polish tennis player has been open about her struggles, admitting that she often feels hampered by self-doubt and negative thoughts during matches. In her post-match interview, Linette revealed that she had been haunted by her double fault in the Australian Open, which led to her loss against Moyuka Uchijima.
Despite these challenges, Linette demonstrated remarkable resilience in her match against Zarazua. After surrendering a 5:2 lead in the first set, Linette regrouped and closed out the set with a 6:4 victory. In the second set, she faced a 1:3 deficit but fought back to win the set 7:6 in a tiebreaker.
Zarazua, standing at just 160 cm, has been enjoying a career-high ranking of 66th in the WTA rankings. She had impressed in the eliminations, defeating two opponents to secure a spot in the main draw. However, Linette’s experience and skill ultimately proved too much for the Mexican player.
While Linette’s „demons” still made an appearance in the second set, she managed to overcome them and secure the win. In a thrilling tiebreaker, Linette saved two set points and capitalized on her first match point to seal the victory.
As Linette prepares for her next match against either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (26th in WTA rankings) or Sofia Kenin (75th in WTA rankings), she will need to maintain her aggressive form and concentrate on her own gameplay. With Radwańska’s support, Linette is poised to make a stronger impact in the tournament and silence her inner critics once and for all.
Statistics:
* Magda Linette: 38th in WTA rankings, 33 years old
* Renata Zarazua: 66th in WTA rankings, 160 cm tall
* Agnieszka Radwańska: Former world No. 2, joined Linette’s coaching team in late 2024
* WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi: Linette’s first win since partnering with Radwańska