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Elina Avanesyan’s 6-4, 7-5 defeat of Bianca Andreescu in the first round of the Cincinnati Open was a history-making moment for Armenia as Avanesyan became the first player representing the country to compete in a Hologic WTA Tour main draw, according to the Women’s Tennis Association.
Last week, the World No.60 started competing under the Armenian flag, announcing on social media: “I am proud to share that I am officially a citizen of Armenia, and I am honored to be competing under my Armenian flag starting at the Cincinnati Open on Monday! Excited for this new chapter and to bring success to my ancestral homeland.”
Avanesyan was born in Pyatigorsk, Russia, to Armenian parents from Nagorno-Karabakh who moved from the region in 1992, during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Avanesyan’s switch made her the first player representing Armenia to be ranked inside the Top 100. The last Armenian to be ranked in the Top 500 was Ani Amiraghyan, who peaked at No.422 in August 2013. The only other Armenian player to reach the Top 100 on either tour was former ATP No.38 Sargis Sargsian, who reached his career high in January 2004.
On Sunday, Avanesyan’s defeat of Lauren Davis in the first round of Cincinnati qualifying made her the first Armenian player to compete in a WTA qualifying draw since Liudmila Nikoyan at Pattaya City 2002, and the first to win a qualifying match since Nikoyan at Tashkent 2000. Nikoyan’s highest ranking was No.500 in October 2000.
Back in 1989, Aida Khalatian also competed in the Moscow main draw, falling in the first round to Natasha Zvereva. Khalatian would represent Armenia following the country’s independence in 1991, but at the time of her sole tour-level appearance played under the flag of the former Soviet Union.
Arm Radio