Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Monday, January 12, 2026, 10:14 / Updated Monday, January 12, 2026 10:14
Jaqueline Cristian (27, WTA No. 37) scored a big win in Adelaide, beating Ekaterina Alexandrova (World No. 11) in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. She thus qualified for the second round of the competition, the round of 16, where she will face the winner of Daria Kasatkina and Maria Sakkari.
In a day that started badly for the representatives of Romania, Gabriela Ruse being eliminated by Anna KalinskayaJaqueline Cristian scored a big win. Big and undiscounted, with the bookies giving huge odds of between 3.45 and 4.00 for such a result.
Jaquline started the match in the best possible way, fast break, later consolidated on her own serve. The Romanian distanced herself at 3-1, was later equalized, but a successful break at 4-4 allowed her to break away decisively.
In the second set, Jaqueline came very close to repeating the scenario from the first act, but Alexandrova saved two break points, then won the game on her own serve.
Jaqueline Cristian, great victory in Adelaide: eliminated the 11th place in the world
otherwise, similar story to the first set: Jaquline finally got a break, pulled to two games (4-2), was then tied, but again a break at 4-4 made the difference.
The Romanian closed out the match with the second decisive point, thus getting revenge after Alexandrova beat her without the right to appeal in Tokyo in October 2025, 6-1, 6-2.
Along with the victories in the qualifiers, this was Jaqueline's third straight success at the Adelaide WTA500 tournament.
