Sixteen-Year-Old Konjuh Shocks Top-Seeded Vinci in WTA Debut

December 31, 2013 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Sixteen-year-old Ana Konjuh pulled off a major upset Tuesday at the ASB Classic in New Zealand in her debut at a WTA Tour-level event, shocking top-seeded Roberta Vinci 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Having just turned 16 four days ago, Konjuh had a breakthrough season in the juniors in 2013, winning the Australian Open and U.S. Opens and became the top-ranked junior in the world. 

"It was a great experience … it was a great match and I hope I'll have a few more like this in the future," Konjuh said. "I'm just really happy to be here and have a chance to play with these great players."

Konjuh said she was disappointed to find herself drawn against Vinci, the tournament's highest-ranked player, but said she was still prepared to fight.

"When I heard, I wasn't that happy about the draw, but right now I realize that this was a great experience for me," said Konjuh.

Konjuh advances to face 20-year-old American Lauren Davis in round two.

Other seeds that were eliminated Tuesday were the fourth-seeded Sorana Cirstea, falling to Canadian qualifier Sharon Fichman, 6-1, 6-4; the sixth-seeded Lucie Safarova falling to Ayumi Morita, 7-6(2), 6-3; and the number eight seed Karin Knapp losing to Julia Goerges, 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(2).

The number three seed Kirsten Flipkens advanced after her win over Monica Puig in a two-setter, 6-4, 7-5; and Ana Ivanovic, the number two seed, was a 7-5, 7-6(2) winner over Alison Riske.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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