Armenian tennis player Elina Avanesyan (WTA 169) kicked off the new season with an important victory in the first round of the WTA tournament in Ostrava. In her first match of 2026, Avanesyan defeated Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima (WTA 87) — 6:3, 2:6, 6:3. The match lasted two hours and proved to be a true test of endurance for both athletes. Avanesyan started confidently, winning the first set, but lost the second. In the deciding set, Elina showed resilience and regained control to secure the win. In the Round of 16, the Armenian player will face American Alicia Parks (WTA 85), who also advanced past the first round. The match promises to be exciting, given Parks’ aggressive style and Avanesyan’s all-around game. This is Avanesyan’s first WTA-level win since July 2025 and a significant step in her effort to return to the top 100 of the world rankings.