Sevastova off to winning start on rainy opening day in Bastad
BASTAD, Sweden - It was a raining opening day at the Ericsson Open in Bastad on Monday, asNo.2 seed Anastasija Sevastova was one of just two players to get her match completed.
The Latvian advanced to the second round with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-1 win over rising Russian teenager Anna Blinkova, who had beaten Sevastova in their lone previous meeting in Moscow last fall - days after her 18th birthday.
"The conditions were tough but I was ready to play," Sevastova said. "I moved pretty well, I started pretty good and I finished also good. I was ready to move and slide a little bit, it was a bit slippery but it's normal. The balls are heavy because of the rain."
In 54 minutes, the No.2 seed broke the teenager six times - as she struggled with nine double faults in eight service games - and won nine of the last 10 games played from 3-3 in the opening set.
Joining Sevastova in the second round was Sara Errani, who handled a nearly two-hour rain delay and a marathon first set tiebreak to defeat Germany's Tamara Korpatsch on Court 1, 7-6(11), 6-2.
In an opening set that featured 10 breaks of serve, the Italian moved ahead by a break twice early, but was forced to save a pair of set points as the youngster battled back and served for the set at 5-3.
After losing serve at 5-5, it was Korpatsch's turn to break Errani when serving for the set, and she later built momenum by winning six straight points from 0-4 down in the tiebreak to earn herself more chances to built a one-set lead.
However, Errani's experience shone through in the heavy conditions - as she saved a total of five set points in the tiebreak and seven total in the set - and finally converted on her third opportunity to steal the opener in over an hour.
The second set proved more straightforward for the World No.5, as she took advantage of a slump from Korpatsch following her missed chances in the first set to win the first five games, and move through to the second round.
The third main draw match of the day was suspended twice due to rain, and will be continued on Tuesday. No.7 seed Katerina Siniakova led wildcard Rebecca Peterson by a 5-3 score in the opening set, serving for it, when the match was postponed.
Tuesday's play also sees top see Caroline Wozniacki begin her campaign against Pauline Parmentier, and No.9 seed and home favorite Johanna Larsson, the 2015 champion, begin against 2014 champion Mona Barthel.
"I have a tough opponent in the first round who loves to play on clay," Wozniacki said. "I'm just excited to be here and hopefully play in front of a big crowd, and I'm going to try and win the whole tournament."
Source: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/sevastova-winning-start-rainy-opening-day-bastad
The Latvian advanced to the second round with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-1 win over rising Russian teenager Anna Blinkova, who had beaten Sevastova in their lone previous meeting in Moscow last fall - days after her 18th birthday.
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No.2 seed Anastasija Sevastova battled past Anna Blinkova and the raindrops to open her campaign at the Ericsson Open on Monday.
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In 54 minutes, the No.2 seed broke the teenager six times - as she struggled with nine double faults in eight service games - and won nine of the last 10 games played from 3-3 in the opening set.
Joining Sevastova in the second round was Sara Errani, who handled a nearly two-hour rain delay and a marathon first set tiebreak to defeat Germany's Tamara Korpatsch on Court 1, 7-6(11), 6-2.
In an opening set that featured 10 breaks of serve, the Italian moved ahead by a break twice early, but was forced to save a pair of set points as the youngster battled back and served for the set at 5-3.
After losing serve at 5-5, it was Korpatsch's turn to break Errani when serving for the set, and she later built momenum by winning six straight points from 0-4 down in the tiebreak to earn herself more chances to built a one-set lead.
However, Errani's experience shone through in the heavy conditions - as she saved a total of five set points in the tiebreak and seven total in the set - and finally converted on her third opportunity to steal the opener in over an hour.
The second set proved more straightforward for the World No.5, as she took advantage of a slump from Korpatsch following her missed chances in the first set to win the first five games, and move through to the second round.
The third main draw match of the day was suspended twice due to rain, and will be continued on Tuesday. No.7 seed Katerina Siniakova led wildcard Rebecca Peterson by a 5-3 score in the opening set, serving for it, when the match was postponed.
Tuesday's play also sees top see Caroline Wozniacki begin her campaign against Pauline Parmentier, and No.9 seed and home favorite Johanna Larsson, the 2015 champion, begin against 2014 champion Mona Barthel.
"I have a tough opponent in the first round who loves to play on clay," Wozniacki said. "I'm just excited to be here and hopefully play in front of a big crowd, and I'm going to try and win the whole tournament."
Source: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/sevastova-winning-start-rainy-opening-day-bastad
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