World No. 20 Lyudmila Samsonova commented on her victory over Caroline Dolehide in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid (score 6/4, 6/4).
She noted that she played very well tactically today, which was a key factor. Samsonova added that the first match in a tournament is always difficult, so she was very happy with the win.
When asked about potential concerns in the second set that her opponent might turn the match around and force a third set, Samsonova confirmed: “Yes, that could have happened, of course.” She noted that she liked how she managed to focus on her serve and start fighting again after losing a break.
Asked what she knew about Caroline Dolehide before the match, given they hadn`t played before, Samsonova replied that Dolehide plays well on these courts and feels comfortable here. In her opinion, the conditions in Madrid are likely similar to Guadalajara. She added that Dolehide has a difficult serve, and therefore Samsonova anticipated a very tough match.
It`s worth noting that in 2023, Dolehide did reach the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Guadalajara, which is her best career result in singles.
