​Monika Niculescu / Victoria Golubic qualified for the round of 16 doubles at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season, on Friday.

Two passes, score 6-4, 6-1, double Anna Bondar / Gret Minnen (Hungary / Belgium).

The Romanian-Swiss pair won in 64 minutes.

For qualifying for the round of 16, Niculescu and Golubic received a joint check for AUD 67,250 and 240 WTA points each in the doubles ranking.

For a place in the quarters, Monica and Victoria will fight against the winners of the match Storm Hunter (Australia) / Elise Mertens (Belgium) – Timea Babos (Hungary) / Kristina Mladenovych (France). It should be recalled that the Babos / Mladenovych duo has won four Grand Slam tournaments in this formula.

Elsewhere in the women’s doubles draw in Melbourne, Iryna Begu / Shelby Rogers (Romania / USA) crashed out in the opening round.

They were defeated by the pair of Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) / Juliana Olmos (Mexico) – favorites 3, the score 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. The match lasted one hour and 36 minutes.

Begu and Rogers will receive A$30,975 and 10 WTA points each in the doubles ranking.

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