Marie Bouzkova outlasts Australian wildcard in Brisbane opener

The Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova outlasted Australian wildcard Talia Gibson 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3 in a three-hour marathon in the opening round of the Brisbane International on Sunday.

World No. 44 Bouzkova was expected to have a comfortable opener against the 20-year-old Australian, but was pushed all the way by the big-hitting Gibson.

She will now play seventh-seeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko in the second round of the season-opening tournament.

“She has so much power so I was behind in a lot of the rallies,” Bouzkova said.

“I’m just happy that I could get a lot of balls back and fight with everything I have.”

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In other matches, McCartney Kessler of the United States pulled off an upset when she downed Poland’s world number 38 Magda Linette in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

The 25-year-old American will now play 15th seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the second round.

Mexico’s Renata Zarazua set up a second round clash against world number one Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova.

Australian Maya Joint beat fellow countrywoman Maddison Inglis 6-3, 6-4, Armenian Elina Avanesyan downed Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 and Russia’s Anna Blinkova was too good for Czech player Sara Bejlek 6-1, 7-6 (7/5).

American Ashlyn Krueger saw off Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 and Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens downed Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-4.