LIZETTE Cabrera fell to second-seed Simona Halep, 6-2, 6-1, on Monday in the first day of the 2021 Australian Open at the Rod Laver Arena.
Cabrera, who represents Australia but is born to Filipino parents, was overpowered by Halep in the first grand slam of the year which she crashed as a wild card.
Halep got off to a strong start, breaking serve twice for a 4-0 lead in the first set.
A bright note for Cabrera came in the seventh in which she saved a break point before winning the game on two errors by Halep.
Still, the world No. 2 took the first set on four points including an ace against Cabrera that brought the game to set point.
Halep broke serve three times in the first set for a 5-0 lead. Cabrera broke in the sixth but that hardly mattered as the match ended on a forehand error, 6-1.
Halep will next face another Australian in Ajla Tomljanovic, who beat Misaki Oi of Japan, 6-2, 6-1.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
