Alexandrova beaten in first round at Adelaide International

CANBERRA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- World number 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova was knocked out of the Adelaide International in the first round on Monday, while the 14th-ranked Clara Tauson retired from her own match due to injury ahead of the Australian Open.

Alexandrova, also fourth seed in Adelaide, was beaten by Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, world No. 37, 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 50 minutes.

Cristian broke Alexandrova's serve five times throughout their match.

"I'm very happy with my level," she said on court after the match.

"I really believed in myself, I was in rhythm, so I just came out here and focused on myself."

Cristian, who went through the qualifying tournament to reach the main singles draw in Adelaide, will play either Maria Sakkari or Daria Kasatkina in the second round.

Earlier on Monday, Tauson withdrew from her first round match against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic shortly after losing the first set in a tiebreak.

Tauson, who played the match with a bandage on her left leg, sought medical treatment in the break between sets before retiring from the match.

The Danish player had been beaten in her first match at the Brisbane International earlier in January. ■