Ostapenko, Garcia progress in Adelaide

ADELAIDE, Jan 09 (AFP): Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova pulled out of the Adelaide International with a hip injury Tuesday just days before the Australian Open, as Jelena Ostapenko set up a clash against Caroline Garcia.
Czech world number seven Vondrousova began her season at the United Cup, beating Serbia's Olga Danilovic and losing to China's Zheng Qinwen.
Former French Open winner Ostapenko, the Latvian sixth seed and world number 12, needed three sets to get past Romanian opponent Sorana Cirstea 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
She lost serve twice in the first set before waking up.
"I was sleeping in the first set, I'm not really a morning person," she said after a morning start at Memorial Drive.
"It took me time to wake up and get into the match. I'm glad I managed to win it."
Ostapenko recovered to win six games out of seven and reach 3-1 in the final set.
"I like to play in Australia," the 2023 Australian Open quarter-finalist said.
"Conditions are good for me. Sometimes I get too worked up but then I calm down and play better."
She will next play former world number four Garcia, now ranked 20th, who also avoided an upset, coming from a break down in the final set to defeat Australian wildcard Taylah Preston 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.