WTA roundup: Sevastova rallies in Bucharest

[July 17, 2019]  Top-seeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia rallied for a 5-7, 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory over local favorite Ana Bogdan on Tuesday in the first round of the BRD Bucharest Open in Romania

Sevastova lost a wild first set that saw five consecutive service breaks, before Bogdan served out. Sevastova also squandered two set points in the second set, then overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 in the tiebreaker. She then fell down a break in the third set before ultimately surviving in 3 hours and 3 minutes.

Third-seeded Veronika Kudermetova of Russia had less trouble, dispatching the Netherlands' Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-4, while Czech eighth seed Kristyna Pliskova downed Romania's Alexandra Cadantu 7-5, 6-1.

The only seeded player in action to fall was No. 5 Sorana Cirstea of Romania, who lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to countrywoman Jaqueline Cristian.

Ladies Open Lausanne

Top-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany retired due to a right wrist injury while trailing 6-7 (5), 6-4, 3-2 to Swiss wild card Simona Waltert in the first round in Switzerland.

Waltert, 18, broke Goerges six times before the German was forced to retire, following multiple visits from a trainer. It was Waltert's first-ever main-draw match at the WTA level. She'll next face Jil Teichmann, who won an all-Swiss battle with Timea Bacsinszky 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova celebrates winning her first round match against Kristie Ahn of the U.S. REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge

Third-seeded Frenchwoman Alize Cornet advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Italy's Martina Trevisan, while fourth-seeded Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu rallied from a rough start to beat Swiss Stefanie Voegele 1-6, 6-1, 6-0.

American Allie Kiick routed fifth-seeded German Tatjana Maria 6-1, 6-0 in just 58 minutes, winning 67 percent of the total points.

--Field Level Media

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