Kristina Mladenovic vs Nao Hibino — R32 — Singapore Tennis Open

Qualifier Nao Hibino lost the second set and still came through the Singapore Tennis Open round of 32, beating Kristina Mladenovic in three sets over two hours and 19 minutes. Neither player held with much regularity — Hibino won nine of her 15 service games, Mladenovic nine of 16 — and Hibino did more with the openings, converting seven of nine break points to Mladenovic's six of 14. Mladenovic's best passage was the second set, when she won 71 percent of her first-serve points and broke in games 6, 8 and 9 to level the match. She broke first in the decider too, in game 5 for 3-2, but Hibino broke straight back in game 6 and again in game 8 for 5-3. Mladenovic broke once more to trail 4-5. Hibino, three for three on break points in the set, took it 6-4. Mladenovic, 33, came in ranked WTA No. 824, and her most recent match in The Drop Shot's record was a first-round loss at the 2024 French Open. Hibino, WTA No. 199, had been an 81 percent favorite in the betting market, and she finished with 96 of the 190 points played.