Cristian cruises past Marcinko after Mboko withdrawal in final match of Day 2

Jaqueline Cristian ended the second day of action at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a swift 6-1, 6-1 victory over Petra Marcinko, last minute substitute for Victoria Mboko, on Monday evening.

The 27-year-old Romanian, ranked No 39, closed out the night’s play at the Aviation Club with a clinical display that lasted just over an hour.

Cristian was originally set for a high-profile opening-round clash against Victoria Mboko, the 11th seed and recent Doha runner-up. However, the 19-year-old Canadian was forced to withdraw from the tournament earlier on Monday due to a right elbow injury, preventing her from making her anticipated Dubai debut following her rise into the world’s top 10.

Mboko’s absence opened a spot for lucky loser Petra Marcinko. The 20-year-old Croat, ranked No 69, struggled to find her footing after being called into the main draw on short notice.

With this win, Cristian advances to the round of 32 where she will face Ella Seidel. The 21-year-old German reached the second round after defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in straight sets.

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 1st round

E. Rybakina (1) – Bye
K. Birrell (Q) – T. Maria: 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
A. Ruzic (LL) – E. Raducanu: 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
A. Zakharova (Q) – M. Uchijima (Q): 6-2, 6-4
B. Bencic (9) – J. Bouzas Maneiro: 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
S. Bejlek (WC) – Z. Sonmez (WC): 6-2, 6-2
P. Badosa – K. Siniakova: 6-3, 7-5
E. Svitolina (7) – Bye
C. Gauff (3) – Bye
A. Kalinskaya – J. Ostapenko: 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
E. Mertens – M. Bouzkova: 6-2, 6-2
E. Navarro (14) – E. Ruse (Q): 6-4, 7-5
L. Noskova (10) – A. Li: 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
S. Cirstea – A. Sasnovich (Q): 6-3, 7-6[6]
A. Eala (WC) – H. Baptiste (LL): 6-4, 0-1 Ret
J. Paolini (6) – Bye
E. Alexandrova (8) – Bye
M. Linette – L. Sun (WC): 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
P. Stearns (LL) – M. Frech (LL): 6-4, 6-2
C. Tauson (12) – S. Kenin: 7-6[4], 6-2
I. Jovic (16) – K. Rakhimova (LL): 6-1, 1-6, 6-1
D. Shnaider – M. Joint (LL): 6-4, 6-1
V. Gracheva (Q) – R. Sramkova (Q): 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
J. Pegula (4) – Bye
M. Andreeva (5) – Bye
D. Kasatkina – L. Siegemund: 6-2, 6-3
E. Seidel (Q) – C. Bucsa: 6-1, 6-4
J. Cristian – P. Marcinko (WC): 6-1, 6-1
L. Fernandez – L. Samsonova (13): 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
J. Tjen (WC) – D. Yastremska: 6-4, 6-1
B. Krejcikova – A. Pavlyuchenkova: 6-4, 6-4
A. Anisimova (2) – Bye