Holder Paolini takes her time in all-day win

Defending champion Jasmine Paolini began in the morning and finished at night on a day of rain delays as the Italian outlasted Eva Lys in a 6-2, 7-5 opening match marathon.

The Italian who went on to play two Grand Slam finals last season after triumphing in the emirate, was just glad to get off court after coming back out in the evening to play what amounted to a final point against her German opponent.

The second-round contest began in the morning but was subject to a series of annoying rain interruptions. The rare desert wet weather finally settled in at mid afternoon and lasted for more than four and a half hours.

Paolini and Lys spent less than a minute playing the final point, with Lys sending a return wide to finally end the marathon.

The world No. 4 winner was relieved to finally get to the end after 97 minutes of actual play over the seven-hour-plus span of the contest..

“I’m really really happy to win such a long match,” Paolini said. “This morning it was (sprinkling) all the time.

“That is so strange for Dubai. I’m glad I managed to come back out and get the win.  This is a special place for me.

“I told myself only to play if the court and conditions were safe.

“I was trying to focus on what I had to do on court; The stop-start was so tough.”

Other matches were completed before the poor weather arrived, with 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina defeating qualifier Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-2 and Spanish ninth seed Paula Badosa advancing past Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-1.

Main photo:- Jasmine Paolini begins her title defence by WTATennis.com