LDN - Sports

WTA roundup: Svitolina, Muguruza roll to wins in Hong Kong

[October 10, 2018] Top-seeded Elina Svitolina opened play in the Hong Kong Open with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Australian wild card Priscilla Hon on Tuesday in China.

Svitolina required 70 minutes to finish off her straight-sets victory.

"I'm definitely so happy that I finished in two sets and was able to break -- that was really important," Svitolina said after her match. "It was really tough out there today, she was trying to play really aggressive from the baseline. It was so important to finish it in two sets."

The Ukraine native can clinch a spot in the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore by winning the title in Hong Kong.

"There's always a bit of pressure, being in a tournament and being the top seed," Svitolina said. "But I've been in this situation many times, and for me it's just another tournament that I can perform well in. I can show my best, play good matches -- that's why I'm here."

Svitolina will next face Japanese qualifier Nao Hibino, who posted a 6-3, 6-3 win over Samantha Stosur of Australia.

Fourth-seeded Garbine Muguruza also advanced in straight sets, notching a 6-3, 6-1 win over fellow Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo.

"It's not easy to play a Spanish player, because I know her," Muguruza said afterward. "But I'm happy that I'm in the second round and looking forward to my next opponent."

Her next foe will be Romania's Ana Bogdan, who rallied for a 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-5 victory over lucky loser Caroline Dolehide of the United States.

Two other seeded players were in action Tuesday. No. 6 Qiang Wang of China was a 6-0, 6-2 winner of Hong Kong's Ling Zhang, and No. 7 Daria Gavrilova of Australia recorded a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas.

Tianjin Open

Fourth-seeded Aryna Sabalenka received a bit of a battle before posting a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-0 victory over American Sofia Kenin in the opening round of the Tianjin Open in China.

The Belarus native is in the mix to qualify for the WTA Finals and winning this event would keep her alive.

"It was another three-set match, and I did my best today, because she was playing really well," Sabalenka said afterward. "In the second set, she was quite good, and I was always under pressure, and I was missing a lot.

[to top of second column]

"In the third set, I said to myself, 'Just put everything in and don't care about what she's doing,' and the game went pretty quickly, and to my side."

Sabalenka will next face Poland's Magda Linette.

Second-seeded Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia also advanced by registering a 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Chinese qualifier Xun Fang Ying. Garcia needed just 69 minutes to close it out.

Third-seeded Belgian Elise Mertens recorded a 7-5, 6-1 victory over China's Lin Zhu, Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky advanced when seventh-seeded American Danielle Collins retired due to injury after Bacsinszky won the first set 6-3, and Great Britain's Katie Boutler posted a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over eighth-seeded Greek Maria Sakkari.

Upper Austria Ladies' Linz

Hungary's Timea Babos upset eighth-seeded Croatian Donna Vekic 6-1, 6-1 in the Upper Austria Ladies' Linz to set up a match against doubles partner Kristina Mladenovic of France.

Mladenovic advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Brit wild card Harriet Dart.

"She is one of a kind. On tour, you have few really good friends and she is my best friend," Mladenovic said afterward. "Even when we are not in a tennis tournament, we share everything about our lives.

"It's a very precious relationship and friendship. We are more used to being on the same side, and every tournament we practice. She's really my partner and my best girl friend."

Babos saved all nine break points during her 69-minute upset of Vekic.

The only other seeded player in action on Tuesday was No. 5 Camila Giorgi of Italy, who defeated France's Pauline Parmentier 6-3, 7-6 (4).

--Field Level Media

Back to top