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In her first singles match of the season on the surface, Boulter navigated a tricky hold where she saw off break points before impressively breaking to love, but missed the opportunity at 5-4 to serve out the set.

"We were well off break even position and that only became clear in November."

Dimitrov managed to avoid another disastrous start in the third set, fending off break point to hold from deuce.

She had already fended off break points in the eighth game and saved three set points two games later before gifting Sabalenka the opener with a double fault.

Elena Rybakina used her serve to fend off break point and secured the first two games of the second set.