Two Seeded Players Lose in First Round at the Adelaide International 

Russia's Anna Kalinskaya hits a return against Belarus's Victoria Azarenka during their women's singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 2, 2024. (AFP)
Russia's Anna Kalinskaya hits a return against Belarus's Victoria Azarenka during their women's singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 2, 2024. (AFP)
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Two Seeded Players Lose in First Round at the Adelaide International 

Russia's Anna Kalinskaya hits a return against Belarus's Victoria Azarenka during their women's singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 2, 2024. (AFP)
Russia's Anna Kalinskaya hits a return against Belarus's Victoria Azarenka during their women's singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 2, 2024. (AFP)

Former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova and Beatriz Haddad Maia lost their first-round matches Monday at the Adelaide International.

Qualifier Anna Kalinskaya beat 2021 Roland Garros winner and No. 4-seeded Krejcikova 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. Kalinskaya had three match points on Krejcikova’s serve when leading 6-5 in the deciding set and converted the third for the win.

Former French Open finalist Pavlyuchenkova breezed through qualifying and beat fifth-seeded Haddad Maia 6-3, 6-4.

The joint WTA-ATP tournament is the biggest tune-up event this week for the Australian Open, which begins on Sunday at Melbourne Park.

In another first-round Adelaide result, Ana Bogdan beat Katie Boulter, who represented Britain at last week's United Cup tournament, 6-3, 6-4.

Elena Rybakina, who won Sunday’s Brisbane International, and Jessica Pegula are the top women’s seeds. Neither played Monday.

Tommy Paul is the top-seeded player in the ATP portion of the tournament. In a first-round result Monday, Jack Draper beat fifth-seeded Sebastian Baez 6-1, 6-3.

At the Hobart International WTA tournament, top-seeded Elise Mehrtens, who won the tournament in 2017 and 2018, beat 2022 Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-3.

“Collins is) definitely a tough opponent in the first round. She can definitely strike the ball very hard,” Mertens said. “The weather was in my advantage, a little bit more wind.”

The Belgian player next faces Slovakia’s Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova, who beat fellow qualifier Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 1-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5.



Matter of Time until Mbappe Breaks Real Goal Drought, Says Ancelotti

Kylian Mbappé of PSG celebrates after scoring the 0-2 goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain, in San Sebastian, Spain, 05 March 2024. (EPA)
Kylian Mbappé of PSG celebrates after scoring the 0-2 goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain, in San Sebastian, Spain, 05 March 2024. (EPA)
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Matter of Time until Mbappe Breaks Real Goal Drought, Says Ancelotti

Kylian Mbappé of PSG celebrates after scoring the 0-2 goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain, in San Sebastian, Spain, 05 March 2024. (EPA)
Kylian Mbappé of PSG celebrates after scoring the 0-2 goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain, in San Sebastian, Spain, 05 March 2024. (EPA)

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has not found the back of the net for more than a month but manager Carlo Ancelotti believes it is only a matter of time before the French forward breaks his drought.

Mbappe has scored only one goal in his last seven games and has gone over 400 minutes without netting for Real Madrid in all competitions as he continues to struggle playing as a center forward, Reuters reported.

The 25-year-old was also not called up for France during the international break despite being the team captain but Ancelotti said Mbappe was in good spirits in training sessions ahead of Sunday's LaLiga trip to Leganes.

"It happens to all great strikers, he can get frustrated but that's not his case. I see him motivated and happy to train with his teammates," Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday.

"Sooner or later he will break that streak of games in which he hasn't scored goals. Tomorrow he will have a great game because it is just a matter of time.

"He has incredible quality and sooner or later he will show it."

Mbappe's position has been debated since his dream move to the Santiago Bernabeu, with many wondering if he should play on the left but Ancelotti has been reluctant to switch Vinicius Jr, their top scorer who plays in the same position.

"I don't think Kylian has ever asked me for a position on the pitch, everyone wants to start in the starting 11," Ancelotti said.

"But Mbappe and Vinicius don't have a fixed position on the pitch. It all depends on the match."

Ancelotti also said he did not need to give Mbappe any specific instructions in training but the Italian has been working with defenders Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy as he deals with an injury crisis at the back.

Although David Alaba is on the mend from an anterior cruciate ligament tear, Real have lost Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao to similar injuries.

"We have focused on defence, with Raul Asencio, Mendy, trying out right backs," Ancelotti said.

With the opportunity to sign reinforcements in the mid-season transfer window, Ancelotti said Real would consider their options after playing Sevilla next month in their last match of 2024.